STS Flashcards
The range of variation found among microorganisms, plants, fungi, and animals. Also the richness of species of living organisms.
Biodiversity
Any living thing
Organism
Populations of organisms of different species that interact with one another.
Community
Any geographic area with all of the living organisms present and the nonliving parts of their physical environment. Involves the movement and storage of energy and matter through living things and activities.
Ecosystem
A group of populations of similar organisms that reproduce among themselves, but do not naturally reproduce with any other kinds of organisms
Species
A unit of inherited material. An organism’s collection of genes determines what it is, what it looks like, and often how it behaves.
Gene
is all the different genes contained in all individual plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It occurs within a species as well as between species.
Genetic diversity
is all the differences within and between populations of species, as well as between different species.
Species diversity
is all the different habitats, biological communities, and ecological processes, as well as variation within individual ecosystems.
Ecosystem diversity
Three level of biodiversity
genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity are called?
hotspots
species that are only found in one particular location—are also found in hotspots.
Endemic species
Why is Biodiversity Important?
Economic, Ecological life support, Recreation, Cultural, and Scientific
are all threats to biodiversity
Pollution, climate change, and population growth
is the protection and management of biodiversity to obtain resources for sustainable development.
Biodiversity conservation
is the conservation of species within their natural habitat by creating protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves.
In-situ Conservation
involves the breeding and maintenance of endangered species in artificial ecosystems such as zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, gene banks, etc.
Ex-situ conservation
it is also known as the age of computers, the digital age, and the media age.
The information age
who said this “information might replace matter as the primary stuff of the universe
Von Baeyer
who established the Gutenburg era that started the information age
Johannes Gutenburg
Invention of the printing press kick started the emergence of new ideas.
The Pre-Gutenberg Era
The printing press was considered a catalyst for the Renaissance (the development of science) and powers were lost from exclusive monarchs and restrictive religious orders
The Gutenberg Revolution
The Internet and the World Wide Web in the ‘90s marked the modern world of technology.
Broadband Internet access made many things accessible such as Facebook, Google, Youtube etc.
The Post-Gutenberg World: The Age of Social Media
is the process of using technology to change the genetic makeup of an organism - be it an animal, plant or a bacterium.
Genetic engineering
When Recombinant DNA technology was first developed?
1970s
GMO Acronym
genetically modified organism
It refers to any organism whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering technology.
GMO
a common soil bacterium that contains a gene which produces a protein harmful to FSB.
Bacillus thuringiensis(BT)
Although current research suggests that GMO foods are safe, there is some concern around their long-term safety and environmental impact.
Cancers
Allergies
is one that carries a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into it genome
Transgenic Animals
is a field of research and innovation concerned with building ‘things’ - generally, materials and devices - on a nanoscale which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.
Nanotechnology
One application of nanotechnology in medicine currently being developed involves employing nanoparticles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific types of cells (such as cancer cells)
Drug Delivery
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are using antibodies attached to carbon nanotubes in chips to detect cancer cells in the bloodstream.
Diagnostic Techniques
refers to the rise in the near surface temperature of the planet Earth caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that warms the atmosphere.
Global warming
The natural trapping of heat in the atmosphere is referred to as the greenhouse effect.
greenhouse effect
The additional warming that may be produced by increased levels of gases that absorb infrared radiation is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect.
enhanced greenhouse effect
The gases that absorb heat (infrared radiation) are known as
greenhouse gases
is added to the atmosphere by human activities. When hydrocarbon fuels (i.e. wood, coal, natural gas, gasoline, and oil) are burned, carbon dioxide is released.
Carbon dioxide
Sources of Methane
Organic Waste
Livestock
Sources of Nitrous Oxide
Fertilizers
Transportation
Causes of Global Warming
USE of FOSSIL FUELS
DEFORESTATION
INTENSIVE FARMING
WASTE DISPOSAL
OVERPOPULATION AND OVERCONSUMPTION
Refers to changes in any aspect of the earth’s climate including temperature, precipitation, storm intensity, and rainfall patterns
climate change
HIGHER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES AND MORE HOT DAYS IN NEARLY ALL LAND AREAS
TEMPERATURE
MORE INTENSE PRECIPITATION EVENTS OVER MANY NORTHERN HEMISPHERE MIDDLE TO HIGH LATITUDE LAND AREAS
PRECIPITATION
How do we Prevent Global Warming and Climate Change?
Renewable Energies
Energy & Water Efficiency
Sustainable Transportation
Sustainable Infrastructure
Responsible Consumption & Recycling
Circular Economy
