Lecture 1: Introduction

Question 1

Define ‘biological evolution’.

Answer 1

The process whereby populations of organisms accumulate gradual genetic changes over generations that lead to differences between them.

Question 2

Define ‘biodiversity’.

Answer 2

Can be considered on many different levels e.g. number of species, DNA sequences etc… there is not one single definition.

Question 3

Define ‘genome’.

Answer 3

The complete constitution of an individual. (only 1% of base pairs code for proteins (known as exome).)

Question 4

Define ‘locus’.

Answer 4

A physical position on a chromosome. Refers to a segment of DNA that may be a gene or simply be defined as a point or region of interest.

Question 5

Define ‘allele’.

Answer 5

An alternative genetic form at a locus.

Question 6

Define ‘heterozygote’.

Answer 6

An individual with two different alleles at a locus. (i.e. the allele is different on the two homologous chromosomes.)

Question 7

Define ‘homozygous’.

Answer 7

An individual with the same allele at a locus. (i.e. the alleles are the same on the two homologous chromosomes.)

Question 8

Define ‘DNA’.

Answer 8

Deoxyribonucleic acid is the self-replicating molecule which contains the genetic information of almost all living organisms.

Question 9

What is the ‘central dogma of molecular biology’.

Answer 9

DNA ➡ (transcription) ➡ RNA ➡ (translation) ➡ Proteins.