Topic 4 - Natural selection & Genetic modification Flashcards
def of species
‘A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another, producing offspring that can also reproduce’?
What is the scientific name for the modern human species?
homo sapiens
From what type of creatures are modern humans thought to have evolved?
apes
What are the remains of organisms that have been turned into rock called?
fossiles
Which substances did early human-like animals make tools out of?
wood/stone
Why do we only find the stone tools now?
wooden ones have rotted
Which of these three species is most closely related to modern humans, and how can you tell: homo habilis, Australopithecus afarensis, Ardipithecus ramidus?
Homo habilis, because the first word of its scientific name is the same as that of modern humans.
On which continent are the oldest human-like fossils found?
africa
evolution def
‘A gradual change in the characteristics of a species over time’
Where does the evidence come from that humans evolved?
fossils, stone tools
Over how many years can scientists trace human evolution?
4-5 million years
variation def
differences in characteristics between two organisms
What is the name of the scientist who is most well known for developing a theory about evolution?
charles darwin
what environmental change resulted in elephants large ears
increase in temp
environmental change that resulted in woolly mammoths hairiness
decrease in temp
how did darwin explain how evolution occurs?
natural selection
what kingdoms are there
plants, animals,fungi,protists,prokaryotes
how are bacteria cells different to other cells
no nucleus
no chromosomes
no mitochondria
artifical selection def
humans choosing certain organisms because they have useful characteristics
selective breeding def
new breeds of organisms are created using artificial selection
whats a genome
all the DNA present in an organism
whats genetic engineering
process in which genes from one organism are transferred into the genome of another organism
suggest a characteristic that would be useful in a new breed of sheep
disease resistant, more wool
Darwin’s theory?
That the strongest species will survive, and good genes passed to offspring. (Survival of the fittest)
