Test 1 Flashcards
(94 cards)
Homologous genes
genes or a gene sequence that are in different species but encode the same product because the sequence is derived from a common ancestor
closely related species
species that are so similar in appearance that the difference between them can sometimes be unclear.
pseudogenes
inactive genes which are genetic leftovers
homoplasy
organisms that look similar but do not share a common ancestor
biological fitness
success of reproduction and passing these selected traits to offspring
synapomorphy
characteristics shared between different species that have derived from a common ancestor
polymorphism
when there is more than one variant for a phenotype or allele in a population
polyploidy
having more than two haploid sets of chromosomes
replacement mutation
a point mutation that changes a nucleotide and may change the protein to inactive or into something else, seems like a small change but can have great affect
leader sequence
a short sequence that will not be translated, it allows the ribosome to attach and translate the strand
somatic mutation
mutations that cannot be passed to offspring but can cause cancer in the organism which has the mutation
Okazaki fragments
short DNA fragments that are formed on the lagging strand during DNA replication
codon
three base sequences within in the DNA that code for the amino acids in proteins
parsimony
the branching pattern in a phylogenetic tree that requires the smallest number of evolutionary changes
promoter
sequences of DNA in front of the gene that tell RNA polymerase where to start transcribing
evolution
change in frequency of alleles in a population of a species through time
natural selection
the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype
homology
similarity between species due to a common ancestor, part may have different functions
shared (common) ancestors
an individual from which all organisms in a certain group have directly descended from
descent
the origin of an inheritance
genes
a DNA segment that encodes a functional product
alleles
different versions of the same gene
Macroevolution
evolution of whole taxonomic groups over long periods of time.
microevolution
change within a species over a short period