Final Biology Exam Flashcards
Definition of Evolution
change in the heritable characteristic of biological populations over time (or generations).
Definition of Phenotype
the observable and measurable characteristics of an organism.
Characteristics vs. Character States
Character: any observable feature or trait of an organism (eye)
Character State: two or more distinguishable forms of a character (eye color)
Definition of Gene
the basic physical and functional unit of heredity (What produces your phenotype)
Definition of Allele
one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Definition of Chromosomes
a structure of nucleic acids and proteins found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Steps of Mitosis (Diploid) and Meiosis (Haploid)
- Prophase
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
Steps of the Life Cycle
- Meiosis
- Gametes
- Fertilization
- Mitosis
- Adult
Definition of Horizontal Gene Transfer
the movement of genetic material between unicellular and/or multicellular organisms other than by transmission of DNA from parent to offspring
What are the five assumptions of HWE
Assumption 1: No Genetic Drift Assumption 2: A Closed Population Assumption 3: Mutations Don't Happen Assumption 4: Random Matting Patterns Assumption 5: No Natural Selection Prediction: Whether its evolving/Or alleles change over time
Definition of Mutation
An alteration in the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA
How are new alleles formed
Arises when a mutation occurs in an old allele
Definition of Natural Selection
the process where organisms are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
Definition of Evolutionary Fitness
how well a species is able to survive and reproduce in its environment
Definition of Adaptation
the process by which a species becomes adjusted to its environment
Definition of Selection Pressure
factors that contribute to the selection which variations will provide the individual with an increase chance of surviving over others
Definition of Genetic Drift
The change in the frequency of an existing gene variant in a population due to random sampling of organisms.
Less population=more genetic drift
More population= less genetic drift
Definition of Migration
The movement from one region or place of one population to another.
Definition of Inbreeding
The production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals of organisms that are closely related genetically.
Definition of Parsimony
the idea that, given a set of possible explanations, the simplest explanation is the most likely to be correct
Homologous vs. Analogous Characters
Homologous Characters: different organisms that are similar because they were inherited from a common ancestor that also had that character (e.g: bones)
Analogous Characters: similarity of a function and superficial resemblance of structures that have different origins (e.g: wings)
Derived vs. Ancestral Characters
Derived Character: traits that the current organism has, and previous one didn’t (e.g: fur and toes)
Ancestral Character: traits are what the modern and ancestors had (e.g: fur)
What is the Phylogenetic Tree
a branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.
Definition of Homeostasis
the ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes
