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Glossary Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

ecosystem diversity

A

The variety of biomes and variation within biomes

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2
Q

species diversity

A

The number of different species present within an ecosystem

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3
Q

genetic diversity

A

The variety of genes within a species

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4
Q

biome

A

A community of plants and animals defined by their climate and dominant vegetation, e.g. marine, desert, tundra

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5
Q

species richness

A

A measure of the number of different species found in a sample

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6
Q

species evenness

A

A measure of the number of individuals of a particular species in relation to the total

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7
Q

percentage cover

A

The percentage of a given area covered by a particular organism

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8
Q

ground cover

A

Area of the soil covered by plants, litter, rocks, etc.

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9
Q

canopy cover

A

Measure of the total area covered by the canopy of the plant

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10
Q

leaf cover

A

Measures canopy coverage, equal to the area of the shadow cast when the sun is directly above

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11
Q

projected foliage cover

A

Same as leaf cover – designed for Australian trees, part of Specht’s classification

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12
Q

% frequency

A

The percentage of quadrats in which a particular species occurs

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13
Q

quadrat

A

A small section of the area to be sampled, chosen by an unbiased method, e.g. randomly

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14
Q

Simpson’s index (D)

A

The probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to the same species

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15
Q

Simpson’s diversity index (SDI)

A

The probability that two individuals randomly selected from a sample will belong to a different species
SDI = 1 - D

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16
Q

optimal range

A

The level of an abiotic factor at which and organism will best survive

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17
Q

classification

A

The sorting or grouping of items based on shared similarities

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18
Q

binomial nomenclature

A

A naming system that gives every living thing a two-word name
Genus species

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19
Q

cladistics

A

Shows organisms’ common ancestry and is based on DNA analysis

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20
Q

dichotomous keys

A

Tools used to identify an organism consisting of a series of statements

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21
Q

asexual reproduction

A

Does not involve the fusion of gametes or change in the number of chromosomes

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22
Q

sexual reproduction

A

New organisms are created by combining the genetic information from two individuals of different sexes

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23
Q

r-strategists

A

Short lifespan, high rate of reproduction, individuals mature rapidly

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24
Q

K-strategists

A

Long lifespan, low reproduction rate, individuals mature slowly

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25
Q

molecular sequencing

A

Enables comparisons between amino acid and DNA sequences

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26
Q

phylogeny

A

The evolutionary history of a type of organism

27
Q

cladogram

A

A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between a number of species

28
Q

clade

A

A group of organisms that is believed to comprise a common ancestor and all of its evolutionary descendants

29
Q

phylogenetic tree

A

Branched diagram depicting hypothetical evolutionary relationships by classifying organisms into groups

30
Q

monophyletic group

A

Common ancestor and all descendants (i.e. clade)

31
Q

polyphyletic group

A

Descendants

32
Q

paraphyletic group

A

Common ancestor and SOME descendants

33
Q

outgroup

A

The most distantly related species in the cladogram

34
Q

bifurcation

A

When existing populations split into exactly two groups

35
Q

species

A

A group of similar organisms whose members can interbreed with each other in their natural environment to produce living/viable and fertile offspring

36
Q

apomixis

A

The ability of an embryo to develop without fertilisation

37
Q

energy transfer

A

The movement of energy from one place to another

38
Q

energy transformation

A

The change of one type of energy to another (e.g. cellular respiration)

39
Q

biomass

A

The total mass of living matter in an ecosystem at a given point in time

40
Q

autotrophs

A

Organisms which produce food (matter and chemical energy) for themselves – also called producers

41
Q

heterotrophs

A

Organisms that eat other organisms
First-order: herbivores
Second-order: carnivores that eat herbivores
Third-order: carnivores that eat other carnivores

42
Q

DNA

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid – the common genetic material for all organisms and carries info coded in genes

43
Q

chromosome

A

A thread-like structure composed of DNA and proteins that carry the genetic material of the cell

44
Q

DNA helicase

A

An enzyme that breaks down the hydrogen bonds holding two DNA strands together

45
Q

DNA polymerase

A

A type of enzyme that is responsible for assembling nucleotides to form new copies of DNA

46
Q

origin of replication

A

The particular sequence in the DNA molecule at which replication is initiated

47
Q

replication bubble

A

An unwound and open region of DNA in which DNA replication occurs, created when DNA helicase separates two strands of DNA

48
Q

semiconservative replication

A

Replication of DNA resulting in two copies that each contain one of the original strands and one new strand

49
Q

replication fork

A

Structure with two branching sections that is created when DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds holding the two DNA strands together at a certain point

50
Q

leading strand

A

DNA template from the origin to the fork (5’ to 3’)

51
Q

lagging strand

A

DNA template from the fork to the origin (moves 5’ to 3’ but strand goes 3’ to 5’)

52
Q

Okazaki fragments

A

Fragments of DNA that are formed on the lagging strand of replicating DNA

53
Q

DNA ligase

A

A specific type of enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together

54
Q

termination sequence

A

A section of a nucleic acid gene that marks the end of a gene or replication site

55
Q

meiosis

A

A form of eukaryotic cell division involved in sexual reproduction

56
Q

homologous chromosomes

A

Matching pairs of chromosomes, one from each parent

57
Q

chromatids

A

Duplicated strands of DNA that are replicated towards the end of interphase

58
Q

diploid (2n)

A

Condition where two of each chromosome (and therefore two of each gene) are present in the nucleus

59
Q

haploid (n)

A

Condition where there is just one of each type of chromosome present in the nucleus

60
Q

somatic cell

A

Body/non-reproductive cell

61
Q

gamete

A

Reproductive cell containing only one set of dissimilar chromosomes or half the genetic material necessary to form a complete organism

62
Q

crossing over

A

Non-sister chromatids become attached at points called chiasmata, where genetic material can be exchanged (occurs in prophase I)

63
Q

oogenesis

A

Produces a single egg (ovum) and begins in ovaries during embryonic development

64
Q

spermatogenesis

A

Produces 4 sperm and is fully completed in the testes

Biology (4 decks)

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