topic 4 Flashcards
How does natural selection work?
enviromental chnage like lack of food causes competition between organisms, they adapt to enviroment (eg change beak size for food)
organisms reproduce and survive so wide population have new adapted traits
How do antibiotic-resistant bacteria provide evidence for evolution?
They evolve by passing on resistance genes, showing evolution through natural selection.
Name three areas influenced by Darwin and Wallace’s theory of evolution.
Genetics, Ecology, Medicine.
What are hominids?
Great apes and humans.
Which fossil is older, ‘Ardi’ or ‘Lucy’?
Ardi is older than Lucy.
Who was Richard Leakey and what did he discover?
Richard Leakey was a paleoanthropologist who discovered early human fossils, helping us understand evolution.
What is stratigraphy and how does it date fossils?
Stratigraphy studies rock layers to date fossils—older layers are deeper.
How do pentadactyl limbs provide evidence for evolution?
Common structure in species, suggesting a shared ancestor.
How were organisms classified using the five-kingdom system?
Organisms classified into Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia based on structure.
What classification system did Carl Woese propose?
Woese proposed the three-domain system (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) based on RNA sequence differences.
What is artificial selection?
Humans breed organisms for specific traits.
How is selective breeding used in the meat industry?
It increases yields by breeding animals with desirable traits.
How can selective breeding be useful outside agriculture?
It’s used in dog breeding to enhance traits.
What is a gene pool?
The total genetic material in a population.
Why does selective breeding reduce gene pools?
It reduces genetic diversity by breeding from a smaller number of individuals.
What is a clone?
A genetically identical organism or cell.
Why is cloning useful for plants?
It allows rapid production of plants with desirable traits.
What are the benefits of using animal tissue culture in medical research?
It allows drug testing and disease research without live animals.
What are restriction enzymes used for in genetic engineering?
They cut DNA at specific points to modify genes.
What is a vector?
A carrier (like a virus) used to transfer genes into organisms.
What are concerns over creating GMOs?
Health risks, environmental impact, and ethical issues.
How can poor soils be improved for higher crop yields?
Using fertilizers, crop rotation, and compost.
Give an example of biological pest control.
Using ladybirds to control aphids.
whos Ardi and how is she adapted?
she is a fossil and is 4.4millon years old, 50kg
long toes for climbing, long arms short legs, structure of legs suggest she walked upright
whos Lucy and how is she adapted
a fossil homuid, 3.2 million years old
had arched feet showing she more adapted to walking than climbing
bigger brain than Ardi
what is evalution
gradual change of characteristics of a species overtime
what is natural selection?
process where individuals with advantageous traits survive, reproduce and pass on their traits
