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Biology > Inheriance, Variation and Evolution > Flashcards

Inheriance, Variation and Evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a chromosome?

A

Long molecules of DNA

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2
Q

What does DNA stand for?

A

DeoxyriboNucleic Acid

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3
Q

What is DNA

A

What all genetic material is made up from

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4
Q

What does your DNA determine?

A

What inherited characteristics you have

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5
Q

Structure of DNA is described as

A

Two strands coiled together in a double helix

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6
Q

What is a gene?

A

A small section of DNA found on a chromosome

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7
Q

What does a gene do?

A

Codes for a particular sequence of amino acids which are put together to make a specific protein.

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8
Q

What is a genome?

A

The entire set of genetic material in an organism

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9
Q

Why is understanding the human genome important?

A

Scientists can identify genes that are linked to different diseases helping us develop effective treatments

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10
Q

How do scientists trace the migration of certain populations?

A

As all humans descended from a common ancestor from Africa. Tiny differences in genomes can allow scientists to workout when new populations split off in a different direction and what route they took.

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11
Q

What is DNA made up of?

A

Nucleotides (a sugar base and phosphate)

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12
Q

Each amino acid is coded for by…

A

a sequence of three bases in the gene

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13
Q

Amino acids are joined together to make various…… depending on the order of the genes ….

A

Amino acids are joined together to make various proteins depending on the order of the gene’s bases.

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14
Q

Where are proteins made?

A

Cytoplasm on tiny structures called ribosomes

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15
Q

How does the DNA get from the nucleus to the ribosome?

A

using the molecule mRNA which copies the code and acts as a messenger by carrying the code between the two.

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16
Q

How are the correct amino acids brought to the ribosomes in the correct order?

A

By using carrier molecules.

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17
Q

Name 3 types of protein

A

Enzymes (biological catalysts) , Hormones (carry messages around the body) and Structural proteins (strengthens connective tissues like ligaments)

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18
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A random change in an organisms DNA

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19
Q

What do mutations do?

A

Change the sequence of the DNA bases which produces a genetic variant. This can sometimes lead to changes in the protein including its shape

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20
Q

Why is it a problem if a protein changes shape?

A

If the shape in an enzymes active site is changed then its substrate won’t be able to bind to it. Also structural proteins can lose their strength making them useless for support.

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21
Q

What are the different types of Mutation?

A

Insertions, Deletions and Substitutions

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22
Q

What is a substitution?

A

When a random base in the DNA base sequence is changed to a different base.

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23
Q

What is an insertion

A

A new base is inserted, which changes the way the groups of three bases are read which can change the amino acids that they code for.

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24
Q

What is a deletion?

A

When a random base is deleted from the sequence which can also change how the sequence is ‘read’

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25
Q

What does the base sequence of a gene determine?

A

The amino acid sequence of a protein

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26
Q

What does the shape of a protein determine?

A

It’s function

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27
Q

Asexual reproduction happens by…

A

mitosis

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28
Q

Sexual reproduction happens by…

A

meosis

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29
Q

What is an allele?

A

Different versions of a gene (dominant/recessive)

30
Q

What is a genotype?

A

The combination of alleles you have

31
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

(overall characteristic) e.g. blue eyes (BB)

32
Q

What is polydactyly?

A 
Genetic disorder (extra fingies or toes) 
Is not life threatening.
33
Q

Is polydactyly caused by a dominant or a recessive allele?

A

A dominant

34
Q

Give an example of a genetic disorder caused by a recessive allele ?

A

Cystic Fibrosis

35
Q

What is cystic fibrosis?

A

A genetic disorder of the cell membranes, so lots of mucus is produced and gets in air passages and pancreas.

36
Q

What does embryo screening do?

A

Tests embryos to see whether they have the allele for a genetic disease.

37
Q

What are some issues with embryo screening?

A

Expensive
Encourages prejudice as people with genetic disorders are deemed “undesirable”
Involves many embryos but only a small number are implanted so many are destroyed (unethical)

38
Q

What are some positives with embryo screening?

A

Help to stop people suffering
Treating the disorders costs lots of money e.g tax (so money will be saved)
There are laws to stop it going too far (not allowed to even select gender of their baby)

39
Q

What did mendel observe?

A

The characteristics of pea plants e.g. colour of flowers or the height of the plant.

40
Q

What did mendel say about characteristics?

A

That they were determined by inherited units (genes)

He also discovered that genes could reappear in later generations (recessive)

41
Q

Why was Mendel’s work not accepted?

A

As people still believed that you inherited a fused of your parents genes.

42
Q

What is the development of a new species called?

A

Speciation

43
Q

What is extinction?

A

When no individuals in a species remain, due to environmental changes, predators, disease or a catastrophic event.

44
Q

What was Darwins theory?

A

That organisms with the most suitable characteristics would be more likely to survive, as they are more likely to reproduce and pass on successful genes to offspring.

45
Q

What were some of Lamarcks ideas?

A

Changes required during an organisms life time could be passed on to offspring (e.g. a long giraffe neck from stretching = offspring with long neck)

46
Q

What evidence was eventually found to support Darwin?

A

The discovery of genetics and by looking at fossils of different ages and how changes develop over time.
Also bacterial resistance to antibiotics further supports evolution.

47
Q

What is a theory?

A

An accepted hypothesis.

48
Q

What is Selective Breeding?

A

When humans artificially select the plants of animals that are going to breed so that desired genes remain in the population.

49
Q

Give examples of things that are selectively Bred

A

Crops with disease resistance, animals that produce more milk, decorative plants with big flowers.

50
Q

What can selective breeding be used for in agriculture?

A

Can improve yields e.g. to improve meat yields a farmer could breed cows and bulls that are larger.

51
Q

What are some issues with selective breeding?

A

It reduces the gene pool (number of different alleles) in a population, which can result in inbreeding which can cause health problems. Also if there is little variation a disease could wipe out more of the species.

52
Q

What is genetic engineering

A

Transferring a gene responsible for a desirable characteristic into a different organism so it also has the desired trait.

53
Q

How have bacteria been genetically engineered?

A

They have been genetically modified to produce human insulin that can be used to treat diabetes.

54
Q

How have sheep been genetically modified?

A

To produce substances like drugs in their milk that can be used to treat human diseases.

55
Q

Why are some people against genetic engineering?

A

There are worries that changing an organism’s genes might accidentally create unplanned problems which could get passed on in future generations.

56
Q

How do you clone plants using tissue culture

A

Divide plant into hundreds of pieces and incubate the cells from these plants with plant hormones to stimulate growth. (must use sterile conditions)

57
Q

What is a disadvantage of cuttings?

A

Not efficient for large scale e.g. if you wanted hundreds of clones.

58
Q

What is a fossil?

A

The remains of organisms from millions of years ago which are found in rocks.

59
Q

What are the 3 ways fossils can form?

A

From preservation in places where no decay happens
casts and impressions
gradual replacement by minerals

60
Q

What is a limitation to fossils?

A

The earliest forms of life were soft bodied organisms and didn’t have skeletons which rarely form fossils.

61
Q

What was Wallaces idea?

A

He proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection (before Darwin)

62
Q

What is speciation?

A

How new species form

63
Q

What is KEY for speciation to take place?

A

A geographical barrier that separates interbreeding between two populations.

64
Q

What type of organism evolves extremely rapidly?

A

bacteria

65
Q

What do antibiotics do?

A

Kill bacteria

66
Q

What is a relatively common antibiotic resistant bacteria?

A

MRSA

67
Q

What could make bacteria resistant to the antibiotic?

A

A mutation

68
Q

Name ways to restrict the development of resistant bacteria?

A

Doctors shouldn’t prescribe antibiotics inappropriately e.g. for a virus as they have no effect on it.
Patients must complete their course of antibiotics
Restrict our use of antibiotics in farming

69
Q

What is a large problem with antibiotic resistant bacteria?

A

That developing new antibiotics is expensive and takes a long time, but the time it takes for bacteria to mutate is a lot less so we won’t be able to keep up.

70
Q

What is the binomial name for a species?

A

The genus and the species

71
Q

What is an issue with evolutionary trees?

A

Extinct organisms have to use fossils and this is a problem as the fossil records for many species are incomplete

Biology (37 decks)

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