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Evolution & Origins of Life Flashcards

1
Q

What is the RNA world hypothesis?

A

Early life thought to be based on self-replicating, self catalytic, RNA molecules

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2
Q

What are opsins?

A

G protein coupled receptors that convert light to nerve impulses

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3
Q

What are hCONDELs?

A

Regions of deletions in human genomes that are highly conserved in closely related relatives

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4
Q

How did eukaryotes arise?

A

Through endosymbiosis

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5
Q

How can phylogenetic relationships be represented?

A

Using phylogenetic tree diagrams

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6
Q

What is radiometric dating?

A

Measuring the ratio of parent daughter nuclides

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7
Q

Outline the order of appearance of cells in the fossil record

A

Prokaryotes -> Eukaryotes -> Multicellular organisms -> Animals

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8
Q

Define classification

A

Arranging taxa into an ordered, heirarchal system

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9
Q

What is the start codon present in bacteria?

A

A modified version called Formyl-methionine

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10
Q

Give examples of analogical structures

A

Insect wings and Bird wings

  • different developmental mechanisms
  • but have overlapping molecular components
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11
Q

Name the PAX6 homologs

A

Mouse - small eye
Drosophilia fly - eyeless
Humans - PAX6 aniridia

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12
Q

Why is the rate of radioactive decay constant?

A

It is not affected by the following factors

  • temperature
  • pressure
  • chemicals
  • electrical fields
  • magnetic field
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13
Q

What can be determined using the fossil record?

A

The order and age of organisms

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14
Q

Give an example of analogical molecules

A

Crystallins (lens proteins)
many different transparent proteins in different species
all have different functions as well
provide stability, transparency and refraction

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15
Q

How has the diversity of cells increased so much?

A

The rate of diversification increases with multicellularity

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16
Q

What is molecular analogy?

A

Molecular evolution convergence

- proteins can have similar functions with no common molecular structure

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17
Q

How has the plastid genome evolved?

A

Has a loss of genes compared to its earlier form

The ‘lost’ genes are present in the nuclear genome

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18
Q

What are the 4 basic processes of multicellularity?

A
  • spatial organisation
  • change in form/ specialisation
  • growth
  • differentiation
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19
Q

How can mutations increase survival?

A

If mutation results in beneficial characteristics, the organism will survive better than its competition

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20
Q

What is the fossil record?

A

Rock and organic material dated by measuring decay of natural occurring radioactive isotopes

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21
Q

Approximately how many times has the cellular structure of eyes evolved?

A

Over 40 times - origin of eye components varies

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22
Q

What is a homeodomain?

A

Transcription Factors found in genes regulating morphogenesis in plants, animals and fungi

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23
Q

Give an example of a mutation tolerated by DNA

A

Sickle Cell Anemia (ScA)

  • mutation in both β globin gene Glu6Val
  • mutant Hb molecules aggregate and form crystals when deoxygenated
  • results in cells with sickle shape
  • cells get trapped in capillaries -> can cause tissue death
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24
Q

What do all bacteria, archae and eukaryotes have in common?

A

They all carry genetic material DNA

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25
What is the function of the Drosophilia eyeless / PAX6 gene
Pax6/eyeless is involved in development of eyes & brain of both invertebrates & vertebrates
26
How do eukaryotes detect light?
Via Opsins
27
What are the consequences of gene duplication in evolution?
- Complementary functions (original and duplicated genes carry out same function) - non overlapping functions - Regulatory mutations partition the activity of ancestral genes
28
What are orthologs?
two genes from different organisms that have arisen from a common ancestor
29
What is the start codon used in archae & eukaryotes?
Methionine AUG
30
Why is radiometric dating an accurate way to determine age?
Parent and daughter nuclides cannot leave or enter materials once they have formed There is no intrusion of other, later rock No contamination
31
Describe and explain the presence of HOX genes in vertebrates today
Vertebrates have 4 HOX gene clusters - 2 duplications of ancestral chromosome Gene order along chromosome corresponds to position of expression within the embryo determined by homeodomains
32
What allows for diversification?
Gene duplication
33
Where are catalytic enzymes found?
Ribozymes are present in organisms from bacteria to humans
34
How do different flu strains evolve?
Flu strains infecting the same cell can swap parts of their genetic material
35
Why do bacteria normally not grow in citrate?
Under normal conditions With oxygen Promoter for citrate is OFF bacteria don't produce enzyme so don't grow in citrate
36
What is the function of the plastid genome?
Encode the proteins necessary for plastid function
37
What is meant by homology?
Two structures that are from a common ancestral version
38
How can phylogenetic relationships be studied?
The fossil record | Molecular analysis
39
What is The Cambrian Explosion?
The sudden appearance of complex organisms in the fossil records
40
What is the major difference in modern eukaryotes compared to their earlier form?
Modern eukaryotes contain plastids - mitochondria and chloroplasts
41
Why are some mutations in DNA tolerated?
mutations are tolerated based on their effect - can sometimes have an advantage
42
How are morphological differences established in cells?
During development even though reproductive, selective pressure acts on the adult form
43
What is the advantage of the gene mutation causing sickle cell anemia?
Mutation of 1 β globin gene can give protection against malaria due to lower parasitaemia -fewer complications -> improved malaria survival rates
44
Describe the genome of present day eukaryotic opsins
Eukaryotic opsins share sequence homology | Diverged to detect different wavelengths of light
45
What is catalytic RNA?
Ribozymes
46
Which animals is the HOX gene present in?
In vertebrates (chromosomal organisation and function is conserved)
47
How are animals so different despite evolving from the same genome?
Animals share the vast majority of their genes. | Their gene sequencing is the same but the gene expression differs
48
Give an example of homological structures in organisms
Tetrapod limbs | - have similar developmental mechanisms
49
What is meant by the term phylogenetics ?
New species arise from earlier species sharing relationships
50
What are the 2 types of molecular homology?
- Paralogs | - Orthologs
51
How did bacteria and archae come about?
Overtime DNA and proteins became surrounded by phospholipids
52
Outline an experiment that can be used to observe the process of evolution
1. Grow 12 colonies of E. coli on petri dishes 2. Every day take each culture and place in a clean flask 3. Every 500 generations (75 days) freeze samples 4 Test for ability to grow in citrate in the presence of oxygen
53
Explain the function of N-neuraminidase gene in flu strains
An enzyme which allows viral particles to be released from the cell - the better the cell is at releasing, the further the virus can spread
54
How can mutations act as molecular clocks?
Species that share a recent common ancestor will have fewer differences/mutations than species more distantly related
55
Describe the evolutionary structure of HOX genes
- Paralogs (duplicated from ancestral animals) | - Present in clusters along chromosome
56
Approximately how many hCONDELs have been identified in the human genome?
583 regions identified across all chromosomes
57
Which parent are mitochondria inherited from?
Mitochondria are maternally inherited
58
Define evolution
New species arise from earlier species via an ongoing process driven by accumulated, heritable changes
59
What is the consequence of mutations in the PAX6 homologs?
Lead to retinal defects and ectopic eyes
60
Define what is meant by analogy?
Similar structures with no common ancestors but have similar functions due to convergent evolution (through selection ended up with similar functions)
61
How are living organisms classified?
Based on morphological or molecular criteria
62
Define the term taxonomy
The naming of groups of organisms
63
What are paralogs?
two genes from the same organism arisen by duplication
64
What happens if duplicated genes mutate?
Function differs slightly to original gene | organism still survives as original genes till present
65
What evidence is there to support the theory of endosymbiosis?
- Mitochondria have their own circular genome - MtDNA replicates independently of nuclear DNA - Mitochondria formed by fission of existing mt - mt genome share similarities with typhus bacterium ricketta prowazeki
66
How do changes in genotype arise?
- mutation - recombination of genetic material - natural selection - genetic drift - gene flow - applied selection
67
What is meant by the term morphogenesis?
Anatomical development
68
Explain what the term Phylogeny means
The determination of ancestral relationships of organisms and their evolutionary history
69
Which genes are swapped amongst flu strains?
H-haemagglutinin (binds) | N-neuraminidase (release)
70
How do bacteria evolve to grow in citrate in presence of oxygen?
The citrate gene is adjacent to Rnk promoter RNK Promoter is always ON in presence of oxygen some bacteria are able to grow in citrate they duplicate DNA segement containing citrate, RNK promoter and RNK Duplication results in the citrate gene to be turned on in oxygen presence
71
What is the earliest cell type?
Prokaryotes
72
How does H-haemagglutinin work?
Binds host cells by recongising specific receptor sites on their cell surface and infects
73
What is the function of homeodomains?
Homeodomains share a characteristic protein fold structure that binds DNA
74
What are HOX genes?
Homeotic genes that control the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis
75
Why did the RNA world evolve into DNA genomes?
DNA is more stable than RNA | - greater range of protein enzymes

FLC (34 decks)

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