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A Level Biology > Module 4 Section 3 - Classification and Evolution > Flashcards

Module 4 Section 3 - Classification and Evolution Flashcards

Smithson

1
Q

taxonomy

A

The study of classifying things into different categories

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2
Q

taxonomic hierarchy

A

Placing organisms in levels of organisation

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3
Q

species

A

One specific type of organism; the smallest group of organisms that share a common ancestor

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4
Q

phylogeny

A

The study of organisms’ evolutionary history

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5
Q

phylogenetic tree

A

A diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between different organisms

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6
Q

cladistics

A

Classifying organisms by considering phylogeny (their evolutionary history)

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7
Q

morphology

A

The study of organisms’ structures (e.g. size, shape)

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8
Q

comparative morphology

A

Seeing how structures vary between different organisms, then using this to inform their classification and determine their evolutionary history

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9
Q

How do you write a binomial name?

A

In italics (or u͟n͟d͟e͟r͟l͟i͟n͟e͟d͟ if handwritten)
The genus is Capitalised whereas the species is not

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10
Q

Name the kingdoms you need to know. How many are there now though, and why?

A
  • Plantae
  • Animalia
  • Fungi
  • **Protoctista
  • Prokaryotae**

There are now only four kingdoms, because prokaryotae was split into two domains.

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11
Q

Give six characteristics of the plantae kingdom.

A
  • Eukaryotic
  • Multicellular
  • Contain chlorophyll
  • Photosynthesise
  • Have cellulose cell walls
  • Autotrophic
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12
Q

Give four characteristics of the animalia kingdom.

A
  • Eukaryotic
  • Multicellular
  • Heterotrophic
  • No cell walls
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13
Q

Give three characteristics of the protoctista kingdom.

A
  • Eukaryotic
  • Unicellular or simple multicellular
  • Usually live in water
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14
Q

Give four characteristics of the prokaryotae kingdom.

A
  • Prokaryotic
  • Unicellular
  • No nucleus
  • Smaller than 5 micrometers
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15
Q

Give four characteristics of the fungi kingdom.

A
  • Eukaryotic
  • Unicellular or multicellular
  • Chitin cell wall
  • Saprotrophic
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16
Q

Examples of fungi (3)

A
  • mushrooms
  • yeasts
  • moulds
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17
Q

Examples of protoctista (2)

A
  • algae
  • protozoa (unicellular microscopic animals)
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18
Q

Examples of protoctista (2)

A
  • algae
  • protozoa (unicellular microscopic animals)
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19
Q

Initially, we used ____ ____ to classify organisms. Outline what this means.

A

comparative phylogeny i.e. using observable features like structure and behaviour

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20
Q

Give the three types of evidence taxonomists now use to classify organisms.

A
  • Fossil record
  • Molecular/biochemical evidence
  • Embryological development
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21
Q

What is molecular evidence?

A

Analysing the similarities/differences in proteins and DNA sequences.

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22
Q

Give two examples of biochemical evidence for the reclassification of the kingdoms.

A
  • Archaea have similar histones (DNA-bonded proteins) to Eukarya, whereas Bacteria do not
  • RNA polymerase is different in Archaea and Bacteria
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23
Q

Give two examples of cellular evidence for the reclassification of the kingdoms.

A
  • The bonds of the lipids in the Archaea and Bacteria cell membranes are different
  • The flagella composition and development is different in Archaea and Bacteria
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24
Q

Name the domains.

A
  • Eukarya
  • Archaea
  • Bacteria
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25
Q

The more similar two amino acid chains are, the ____.

A

more closely related they are likely to be

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26
Q

intraspecific variation

A

Variation within a species

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27
Q

interspecific variation

A

Variation between species

28
Q

Different species have different ____, different organisms of the same species have different ____.

A

genes, alleles

29
Q

Give four genetic causes of allele transfers to offspring.

A
  • Independent assortment of homologous chromosomes and crossing over of chromatids in meiosis, creating new allele pairings
  • Chance dictates which two gametes fertilise
  • Mutations cause changes in the genetic code and so create new alleles
  • Sexual reproduction mixes the parents’ alleles
30
Q

Flagellum length is ____ data.

A

continuous

31
Q

Antibiotic resistance is ____.

A

discontinuous

32
Q

Leaf surface area is ____ data.

A

continuous

33
Q

Blood group is ____ data.

A

discontinuous

34
Q

Milk yield is ____ data.

A

continuous

35
Q

Seed shape is ____ data.

A

discontinuous

36
Q

Pigment production is ____ data.

A

discontinuous - e.g. some microogranims can make a type of pigment, some can’t

37
Q

How can you graphically represent discontinuous variation?

A

Bar charts / pie charts

38
Q

How can you graphically represent continuous variation?

A

Histograms

39
Q

Is it continuous data or discontinuous data that changes gradually?

A

Continuous data - it can take a wide range of values

40
Q

Discontinuous data falls into ____ ____.

A

discrete groups

41
Q

Discontinuous data is generally caused by ____ variation.

A

genetic

42
Q

Continuous data is generally caused by ____ variation.

A

a mix of genetic and environmental

43
Q

Continuous variation is caused by ____ of genes.

A

groups

44
Q

Discontinuous variation is caused by ____ of genes.

A

a couple (one or two)

45
Q

Are flagella based on genetic factors, environmental factors or both?

A

Both - genetic factors determine whether a microogranism has the capability to produce one, but some microogranisms will only grow them under certain conditions (e.g. if metal ions are present).

46
Q

Give two environmental causes of variation.

A
  • Dog training (e.g. if a dog sits on command)
  • Hydrangea flower colour
47
Q

Is the size of contractile vacuole in amoebas genetic or environmental?

A

Environmental - a contractile vacuole is fluid-filled space that expands & contracts to collect & expel excess water, preventing the cell from swelling until it bursts

I think it’s a vacuole and not a vesicle as my notes say

48
Q

What does the peak on a normal distribution represent?

A

The mean

49
Q

What does a standard deviation of 1 mean?

A

Approximately 68% of data points fall within one standard deviation of the mean

50
Q

What does a standard deviation of 2 mean?

A

Approximately 95% of data points fall within two standard deviations of the mean

51
Q

What does a standard deviation of 3 mean?

A

Approximately 99.7% of data points fall within three standard deviations of the mean

52
Q

standard deviation

A

The spread of values around the mean

53
Q

Why is calculating the standard deviation more helpful than the range?

A

The range is more likely to be affected by anomalous results because it only takes into account two values

54
Q

Statistical analysis determines the ____ of data.

A

significance

55
Q

What does the D in Spearman’s rank coefficient formula represent?

A

The rank difference between the data pairs

56
Q

What does the n in Spearman’s rank coefficient formula represent?

A

The number of data pairs

57
Q

There are four plants with a height of 95cm. The first plant is meant to be ranked 7 in Spearman’s rank coefficient. What ranks do you assign the four plants?

A

Calculate the mean in the ranks: (7 + 8 + 9 + 10) / 4 = 8.5
You give all four plants a rank of 8.5

58
Q

There are three months in a data set with an average rainfall of 30mm. The first month is meant to be ranked 10, but together they are each ranked 11. What is the next rank for the month with the next highest average rainfall?

A

11 * 3 = 33
33 - 10 - 11 - 12 = 0
i.e. the positions were 10, 11 and 12
Therefore the next rank will be 13.

59
Q

What does a Spearman’s rank coefficient of
a) 0.89
b) -1
c) 0.2
d) 0.63
e) 0
mean?

A

a) Strong positive correlation
b) Perfect negative correlation (all points lie on the line of the best fit)
c) Weak positive correlation
d) Strong-ish positive corellation
e) No correlation

60
Q

State four observations made by Darwin that led him to develop his theory of evolution.

A
  • Offspring have some similar characteristics that are passed on from their parents
  • Organisms produce more offspring than survive e.g. tadpoles
  • Organisms of the same species have different characteristcs
  • Individuals with the most beneficial characteristics for their environment are more likely to survive
61
Q

selection pressure

A

An environmental factor that cuases a struggle/competition for survival e.g. food/water availability, temperature

62
Q

Explain how the fossil fecord can be used as evidence for evolution.

A

Fossils can be arranged in chronological order showing how organisms gradually developed

63
Q

Explain how DNA can be used as evidence for evolution.

A

Evolution suggests all living organisms evolved from a common ancestor. Organisms that have more similar DNA are more closely related (diverged more recently from a common ancestor) because fewer mutations to the DNA base sequence have occurred

64
Q

The cytochrome C protein is found in almost all living organisms. Suggest what this means in terms of evolution.

A

Present in almost all living organisms = suggests we all evolved from a common ancestor

65
Q

Describe how a phenotype becomes more prevalent within a population.

A
  • Individuals show variation in their phenotypes due to mutations.
  • There is a selection pressure from environmental factors [might need to state and explain these], creating a struggle for organisms to survive.
  • Individuals with more helpful adaptations are more likely to survive and reproduce.
  • These organisms pass on their beneficial allele to their offspring
  • Over time, the proportion of the population with this beneficial allele increases.
  • Over many generations, this leads to favourable alleles becoming more frequent within the population.

Note: environmental factors aren’t passed on - natural selection is solely about genetics

A Level Biology (9 decks)

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