Final Exam Flashcards
Proteins & protein synthesis (transcription and translation)
Transcription: the process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA
Translation:the process where the information carried in mRNA molecules is used to create proteins.
What is the function of DNA, RNA, and proteins
- DNA: carries genetic information–> makes the RNA –> codes for proteins by which living things function.
What type of macromolecule are enzymes? What types of jobs do enzymes do?
Proteins are a class of macromolecules composed of amino acid chains linked together by peptide bonds.
What is a mutation?
Random changes in an individual’s DNA sequence that can possibly provide an advantage for survival
What is a mutagen?
an agent, such as radiation or a chemical substance, which causes genetic mutation.
What is a chromosome?
A structure found inside the nucleus of a cell.
What is an 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.
Crossing over
When two chromosomes — one from the mother and one from the father — line up, parts of the chromosome can be switched. The two chromosomes contain the same genes, but may have different forms of the genes.
Independent assortment
describes how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop.
Law of segregation
During the formation of gamete, each gene separates from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene
What is the overall purpose of meiosis? (In other words, what does it do for the organism?)
reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction.
Genotype
Genetic makeup of an organism
Phenotype
Physical characteristics can be shown
Heterozygous
Rr
Homozygous
RR or rr
fertilization
a complex multi-step process that is complete in 24 hours
“sex-linked” traits
characteristics that are determined by genes located on the sex chromosomes
autosomal traits
Autosomal dominant traits pass from one parent onto their child.
Do individuals evolve or is it populations that evolve?
A single individual cannot evolve alone; evolution is the process of changing the gene frequencies within a gene pool
Natural selection - how do traits become common in a population?
The theory that states organisms wit traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce
What is speciation?
The formation of a new species
How does a population evolve over time?
A single individual cannot evolve alone; evolution is the process of changing the gene frequencies within a gene pool
What do organisms compete for?
Food, water,living space, mates
What role do mutations play in evolution?
variability in populations and thus enable evolutionary change.
fitness
The term for success with surviving and reproducing
allele frequency
How often a specific allele appears in a population
Species
A group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can reproduce among themselves to produce fertile offspring
genetic variation
A genetic trait that makes an individual different from other members of the same species
selection pressure
The evolutionary force that causes a particular phenotype to be more favorable in certain environmental conditions and drive evolution through natural selection
heredity
The passing of traits from parent to offspring
Gene pool
All alleles in a population
