Part 1 Flashcards
Definition of biology?
The study of living things
Definition of variations?
visible differences in behavior or physical traits observed between all living organisms
Difference between Interspecific and Intraspecific variations?
Interspecific - Differences between different species (dog/cat)
Intraspecific - Differences between individuals of the same species (german shepherd/golden lab)
Definition of biodiversity?
It is a measurement of the interspecific and intraspecific variation that exists within an ecosystem, eg. the more variations that are observed, the greater the biodiversity
Definitions of adaptations?
Variations in physical and behavioural characteristics may allow organisms to better survive in their particular environment
Two types of adaptations?
Structural and behavioural
Definition of natural selection?
The process of organisms with favorable adaptations reproducing better than those with, passing on their genes
How do you assess the relative health of an ecosystem?
- A method called the diversity index
- # of different species/total # of organisms in area
Definition of a niche?
A role an organism fulfills in their environment
Generalists vs specialists?
Generalist - Occupy a broad niche because of their non-specific adaptations (wolves, hares)
Specialist - Occupy a narrow niche because of their specific adaptations (koalas, pandas)
Two types of competition in nature?
Interspecific competition - Occurs between different species
Intraspecific competition - Occurs between members of the same species
The three types of symbiotic relationships?
Mutualism (both benefit), Commensalism (one benefits), parasitism (one benefits at the expense of the host)
Difference between parasites and predators?
Predators kill their prey to consume them
Parasites avoid killing their host because they would have to find a new one
Definition of heritable traits?
Characteristics that are passed on from parents to their offspring are said to be heritable
How are heritable traits passed down?
Through genes, the genetic material contained within the nucleus of every cell in your body
Two types of reproduction?
Asexual and sexual reproduction
Four main types of asexual reproduction
- Binary fission
- Asexual spores
- Budding
- Asexual reproduction in plants (Vegetative reproduction)
Define binary fission
- Used by single-celled organisms such as amoeba
- The cell duplicates its genetic material and splits into two genetically identical cells
- All offspring are identical
Define asexual spores
- Used by fungi
- Organism’s genetic info is copied in each single-celled spore, which are released and spread through wind, rain, etc
- Some spores, known as zoospores, have a flagella (a tail-like structure) to help them move around
- Spores grow to become an exact copy of parent
Define budding
- Used by small animals like sea sponges and hydras
- As the organism grows, one of its cells will form a bud and start to grow on its own
- When the bud has completely developed, it detaches
- The bud is an exact copy of the original organism
Define vegetative reproduction
-
What are gametes?
Egg and sperm
What is a zygote?
single fertilized cell created by the joining of a sperm and egg
Zygospores vs Zoospores
- Zygospores are a thick-walled structure and can only be formed by the fusion of an egg (female gamete) and a male gamete
- Zoospores are an asexual spore that are flagellated (have a tail) and do not need a mate
