FINAL Flashcards
Evolution
a process that results in changes in the genetic material of a population over time.
Natural Selection
A process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype, or genetic constitution.
Fitness
reproductive success - Organism’s ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring. Species that are more ‘fit’ can pass on their genes and ensure their survival.
Adaptation
a heritable behavioral, morphological, or physiological trait that has evolved through the process of natural selection, and maintains or increases the fitness of an organism under a given set of environmental conditions
Genetic Variation
the difference in DNA sequences between individuals within a population.
Gene Pool
The combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species
Gene
defined as a section of DNA that encodes for a certain trait.
Allele
is defined as a variant form of a gene
Dominant
to describe an allele, a gene, or a trait that is expressed
Recessive
trait that is expressed only when genotype is homozygous
Autosomal
Having to do with any of the 22 numbered pairs of chromosomes found in most human cells.
X-linked
characteristics or traits that are influenced by genes on the X chromosome.
Genotype/ Phenotype
The phenotype is an organism’s physical appearance, and the genotype is the genetic makeup.
Substitution
a type of mutation in which one nucleotide is replaced by a different nucleotide.
Example- GCG- GTG
Deletion
A whole new amino acid is added, or one is
missing from the mutant proton:
Example: GTGGTCCGAAACACC –– GTGGTCTGCCGAAACACC
Val-Val-Pro-Asn-Thr Val-Val-Cys-Pro-Asn-Thr
Insertion
A whole new amino acid is added, or one is
missing from the mutant proton:
Example: GTGGTCCGAAACACC –– GTGGTCTGCCGAAACACC
Val-Val-Pro-Asn-Thr Val-Val-Cys-Pro-Asn-Thr
Silent
When a base pair is substituted but the change still codes for
the same amino acid in the sequence:
Example: TCT and TCC both code for the amino acid Serine
Missense
A genetic alteration in which a single base pair substitution alters the genetic code in a way that produces an amino acid that is different from the usual amino acid at that position
Frameshift
When a deletion or insertion results in a different base pair being
the beginning of the next codon, changing the whole sequence of amino acids
Example: GTGGTCCGAAACACCT –– GTGGTCGAAACACCT
Val-Val-Pro-Asn-Thr Val-Val-Glu-Thr-Pro
Homologus
similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions
Analogus
features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature
how can dna damage impact cell function
Damage to DNA can cause genetic alterations, and if genes that control cell growth are involved, these mutations can lead to the development of cancer.
