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Unit 4 - Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms Flashcards

1
Q

Gene mutation

A

a change to one or more nucleotide bases in DNA that could result in a change in genotype which may be inherited

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2
Q

Autosome

A

a chromosome which is not a sex chromosome

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3
Q

Homologous chromosomes

A

a pair of chromosomes, one maternal and one paternal, they have the same gene loci so determine the same features but they are not necessarily identical as they have different alleles. they are capable of pairing during meiosis

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4
Q

Codon

A

a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in mRNA that codes for one amino acid

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5
Q

Anticodon

A

a sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on tRNA that is complementary to a particular codon on a mRNA molecule

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6
Q

Chromosome

A

a thread like structure made of protein and DNA by which hereditary information is physically passed from one generation to the next

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7
Q

Allele

A

different forms of a gene with different base sequences and different codes

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8
Q

Diploid

A

cell or nucleus containing pairs of homologous chromosomes

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9
Q

Haploid

A

cell or nucleus containing single, unpaired chromosomes

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10
Q

Nucleotides

A

complex chemicals made of an organic, nitrogenous base, a sugar and a phosphate. They are the basic units of which DNA and RNA are made

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11
Q

DNA helicase

A

enzyme that acts on a specific region on the DNA molecule to break the hydrogen bonds between the bases causing the two strands to separate and expose the nucleotide bases

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12
Q

RNA polymerase

A

enzyme that joins together nucleotides to form messenger RNA during transcription

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13
Q

Transcription

A

formation of mRNA molecules from the DNA that makes up a particular gene. first stage of protein synthesis

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14
Q

Polymerases

A

group of enzymes that catalyse the formation of polymers from monomers

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15
Q

ATP

A

nucleotide found in all living organisms, which is produced during respiration and is important in the transfer of energy

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16
Q

Chromatid

A

one of the two strands of a chromosomes that are joined together by a single centromere prior to cell division

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17
Q

Exons

A

portions of DNA within a gene that codes for proteins. they are joined together during splicing

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18
Q

Introns

A

portions of DNA within a gene that do not code for a polypeptide. they are removed from the pre-mRNA after transcription in splicing

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19
Q

Histones

A

proteins, which together with DNA, make up the chromosomes of eukaryotic cells

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20
Q

Gamete

A

reproductive (sex) cell that fuses with another gamete during fertilisation

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21
Q

Gene

A

section of DNA on a chromosome that controls a feature by coding for formation of one or more specific polypeptides or functional RNA

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22
Q

Translation

A

the latter part of protein synthesis when the mRNA is used as a template to which complementary tRNA molecules attach and the amino acids link to form a polypeptide

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23
Q

Chromatin

A

the material that makes up chromosomes. it consists of DNA and the histone proteins

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24
Q

Splicing

A

the process by which base sequences corresponding to the introns are removed and the functional exons are joined together

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25
DNA replication
the process in which the double helix of a DNA molecule unwinds and each strand acts as a template on which a new strand is constructed
26
Crossing over
the process where a chromatid breaks during meiosis and rejoins to the chromatids of its homologous chromosome so that their alleles are exchanged
27
Locus
the specific linear position of a particular gene on a certain chromosome
28
Human genome
the complete set of genes in a cell, including those in mitochondria and/or chloroplasts
29
Mitosis
the type of nuclear division in which the daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
30
Meiosis
the type of nuclear division where the number of chromosomes is halved
31
tRNA
the type of RNA made of around 80 nucleotides and has an anticodon which is complementary to a section of mRNA. each molecule is specific to one amino acid
32
mRNA
the type of RNA that is a long strand arranged in a single helix and its base sequence is determined by the sequence of bases on a length of DNA
33
DNA polymerase
enzyme that joins DNA nucleotides together in a condensation reaction (forming phosphodiester bonds) during DNA replication
34
Proteome
the full range of proteins produced by the genome
35
Describe the process of transcription
DNA helicase breaks the hydrogen bonds between bases and causes the DNA helix to unwind only one strand acts as a template free mRNA nucleotides align opposite exposed complementary DNA bases RNA polymerase bonds together the the RNA nucleotides
36
Describe the process of translation
mRNA attaches to ribosome at the start codon the tRNA molecule with the complementary anticodon to the start codon aligns opposite the mRNA ribosomes moves along the mRNA molecule the two amino acids that have been delivered by the tRNA are joined by a peptide bond this is catalysed by RNA polymerase and requires ATP this continues until the ribosome reaches the stop codon ribosome detaches
37
What happens to the polypeptide after translation?
goes to the Golgi body for folding and modification
38
What is genetic diversity?
the total number of different alleles in a population
39
Describe natural selection
random mutation of alleles = new alleles new allele can give advantage better adapted so more likely to survive reproductive success pass on new allele to offspring allele frequency increases
40
Population definition
group of individuals of the same species that live in the same place and can interbreed
41
Species definition
a population of the same organisms that breed to produce fertile offspring
42
Genetic diversity definition
the total number of different alleles in a population
43
Selection definition
process whereby organisms that are better adapted to their environment survive and breed
44
What are the two types of selection?
directional and stabilising
45
Phenotype definition
observed characteristics of an organism
46
What is directional selection?
the alleles of an extreme type are selected
47
What is stabilising selection?
the alleles near the mean and selected are favoured
48
What is the purpose of courtship behaviour?
- recognition of individuals of same species - identify a mate - form a pair bond - synchronise mating - being able to breed
49
What is taxonomy?
the study of the principles behind classification
50
What is artificial classification?
grouped according to visible differences (analogous characteristics)
51
What is phylogenetic classification?
based on evolutionary relationships between organisms and their ancestors (homologous characteristics)
52
What is meant by a hierarchy?
larger groups which have smaller groups within them, there is no overlap
53
Biodiversity definition
number and variety of living organisms in a particular area
54
Species diversity definition
number of different species and individuals within a community
55
Species richness definition
the number of different species in a particular area at a given time
56
What are the modern methods of classification?
- DNA nucleotide sequence of entire genomes - DNA nucleotide sequence of certain genes - RNA nucleotide sequences - amino acid sequences of shared proteins - the antigens found on cells
57
Sampling definition
taking measurements of individuals selected from a population
58
Which protein is often used for comparison?
cytochrome c
59
Define mutagenic agent
a factor that increases the rate of mutations
60
allele frequency
the number of times an allele occurs within the gene pool
61
binomial naming
internationally recognised method of naming organisms using the genus and species names
62
conservation
method of maintaining ecosystems and the living organisms that occupy them
63
continuous variation
variation in which organisms do not fall into distinct categories but show gradations from one extreme to the other
64
courtship behaviour
the behaviour by which different species identify, attract and select their partners for reproduction
65
discontinuous variation
variation shown when the characteristics of organisms fall into distinct categories
66
hierarchy
the taxonomic classification of living organisms in successive levels of complexity. small groups within large groups but there are no overlaps between the groups
67
index of diversity
calculation that determines the biodiversity in an area based on the number of different species and the number of individuals of each species
68
interspecific variation
differences between organisms of different species
69
intraspecific variation
differences between organisms of the same species
70
Describe the process of crossing over and explain how it increases genetic diversity.
- homologous pairs of chromosomes associate - chiasma form - alleles are exchanged - producing new combination of alleles
71
Describe how one amino acid is added to a polypeptide that is being formed at a ribosome during translation.
tRNA brings specific amino acid to ribosome anticodon binds to codon amino acids join by condensation reaction forming a peptide bond
72
Describe how a polypeptide is formed by translation of mRNA.
mRNA attaches to ribosome anticodons bind to complementary codons tRNA brings a specific amino acid amino acids join by peptide bonds tRNA released ribosome moves along the mRNA to form the polypeptide

Biology (8 decks)

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