Life On Earth 2 Flashcards
What is an adaptation?
An inherited characteristic that makes an organism well suited to survival in its environment/niche
What is evolution?
The process of species slowing changing over a period of time. Evolution is driven by natural selection.
What is an isolating barrier?
A feature that separates two parts of a population so they cannot interbreed e.g. Ocean, mountain range, desert
What is a mutagenic agent?
An environmental factor that increases the rate of mutation
What is a mutation?
A permanent change to the DNA of an organism. Mutations occur at random and they are very rare
What is natural selection?
The survival of the FITTEST. Organisms that are best adapted to their surrounding survive and breed
What is speciation?
The evolution of two or more species from one original species
What is variation?
Differences between individuals. Variation is the result of new alleles being made as a result of mutations
Name an example of a mutagen?
Radiation
What is intensive farming?
Farmers produce food in high yields and use fertilisers and pesticides
What’s an advantage and disadvantage to intensive farming?
Advantage- lots of money and food
Disadvantage- there can be pollution and welfare issues
What is ‘use of GM crops’?
Farms use crops that have genes from other organisms
What’s an advantage and disadvantage for ‘use of GM crops’
Advantage- improve yields, reduce disease, high quantity
Disadvantage- accidental realise of GMO into environment
What is monoculture?
Farmers produce one crop per yield year after year
What’s an advantage and disadvantage to monoculture?
Advantage- crop selected is suitable for the climate soil
Disadvantage-high chance of disease, soil erosion
