genetics- genetic technology

Question 1

Define: Natural Selection

Answer 1

the process by which characteristics of a population change over many generations as organisms with heritable traits survive and reproduce, passing their traits to offspring

Question 2

Natural selection can only occur if what is within a species?

Answer 2

genetic variation

Question 3

The 6 factors that contribute to natural selection are:

Answer 3

variation, inheritance, competition, survival, reproduction, population change

Question 4

Variation:

Answer 4

organisms have different traits

arise from mutations creating new alleles

Question 5

Inheritance:

Answer 5

traits are passed down from parents to offspring

due to passing down alleles

Question 6

Competition:

Answer 6

more offspring are produced then can survive in the environment

Question 7

Survivial:

Answer 7

some variations affect an organisms survival

successful traits increase chance of survival
unsuccessful traits decrease chance of survival

Question 8

Reproduction:

Answer 8

successful organisms survive to reproduce and pass their alleles to the next generation

Question 9

Population Change:

Answer 9

the result is that over time successful alleles and traits become more common in the population

Question 10

Define: Selection Pressure

Answer 10

is the force driving natural selection, can be anything that affects the survival and/or reproduction of organisms

ex. changes in environment, such as climate, competition for resources(food, space, mates), predators or disease

Question 11

Natural selection leads to:

Answer 11

organisms being better suited to their environment

Question 12

the three types of adaptation changes are

Answer 12

physiological, structural, behavioural

Question 13

Physiological Adaptations:

Answer 13

changes to the inside workings of the cells

ex. chemicals in the blood that prevents blood from freezing in the water

Question 14

Structural Adaptations:

Answer 14

anatomical changes to the cells or organs

ex. opposable thumbs that allow hands to grasp

Question 15

Behavioural Adaptations:

Answer 15

changes to an organisms behaviour or response to the environment
ex. migration to warmer climates during winter

Question 16

Individuals of the same species can:

Answer 16

interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 17

Sometimes members of a population change so much that:

Answer 17

they are no longer able to produce fertile offspring with members of the original population

leads to speciation where new species are formed

Question 18

Geographic barriers can:

Answer 18

isolate a population, resulting in new species unable to interbreed

ex. glacier, lava flow, island

Question 19

Define: Adaptive Radiation

Answer 19

the diversification of a common ancestral species(Darwin’s common ancestor) into a variety of differently adapted species

Question 20

Extinction

Answer 20

occurs when a species completely disappears from earth

mass extinctions result in huge decline in the number of species

Question 21

Artificial selection:

Answer 21

is the process of humans selecting desirable traits in plants and animals by choosing which organisms breed together

also called selective breeding

Question 22

Artificial selection similarities with natural selection

Answer 22

differences in survival and reproduction of organisms that change the alleles in the population

selected alleles will become more common in the population over time, changing the population

Question 23

Artificial selection differences with natural selection

Answer 23

the selection pressure is created by human desires instead of by the environment

Question 24

Humans breed crops to:

Answer 24

resist drought, disease and insect infections

Question 25

Consequences of artificial selection

Answer 25

some animals have health problems

some plants lack genetic diversity because they are all similar

Question 26

Define: Monoculture

Answer 26

repeated planting of the same varieties of a species over large expanses of land
ex. corn

Question 27

Reusing soil instead of rotating a variety of crops can lead to:

Answer 27

plant pathogens and diseases

Question 28

Monocultures require:

Answer 28

increased fertilizer and pesticide use

Question 29

Define: Biotechnology

Answer 29

the use of technology and organisms to produce useful products

Question 30

Define: Cloning

Answer 30

a process that produces identical copies of genes, cells or organisms

Question 31

Define: Gene Cloning

Answer 31

manipulating DNA to produce multiple copies of a gene or another segment of DNA in foreign cells

used to mass produce proteins
ex. insulin, vaccines

Question 32

Steps in cloning a gene:

Answer 32

1. choose a vector to be used as a carrier of the DNA to be cloned(i.e., plasmid)
2. a plasmid is a small circular piece of DNA in a bacterial cell
3. insert a segment of DNA to clone into the vector
4. This new DNA molecule that has genetic material from more than one source is called recombinant DNA
5. Introduce the recombinant DNA into foreign cells through transformation
6. Once inside the foreign cells, multiple copies of the bacteria with the cloned gene and its protein product can be made

Question 33

Transgenic Organisms

Answer 33

organisms that have foreign DNA from a different species inserted into them

often called GMOs(genetically modified organisms)

crops modified to be resistant to herbicides, pests, fungus, viruses

Question 34

Environmental threats from GMOs

Answer 34

herbicide resistant plants can lead to use of stronger herbicides

genes can cross to other species

gmo may outcompete species in the wild

Question 35

Health Threats from gmos

Answer 35

long term effects not known

may produce allergic reactions

aren’t labelled

Question 36

Social and economic issues with gmos

Answer 36

lots of money spent on genetic research

private companies and large corporations have too much control over seed and food market

ethics behind humans using other species for their own benefit