VARIATION AND CLASSIFICATION Flashcards
Define interspecific variation
Difference that occurs between members of different species
Define instraspecific variation
Differences that occur within a species
What is genetic variation due to?
Random mutations -chromosomes mutating -DNA mutating Recombination of alleles -crossing over during prophase 1 of meiosis
Describe etiolation
Plants grown without enough light may become etiolated
Grow long and spindly with long internodes
Describe chlorosis
Plants may develop yellow leaves due to
lack of chlorophyll
May be due to lack of magnesium or iron ions in soil, lack of light or viral infection
What is discontinuous variation?
Displayed on bar chart
Phenotypes fall into distinct categories
Often controlled by one gene (monogenic)
Environment is likely to have little or no effect on the phenotype
Examples- blood groups, tongue rolling, sweet pea flower colour
What is continuous variation?
Continuous range of values between two extremes, usually forming normal distribution curve (bell shaped)
Influenced by the environment, more than monogenic characteristics
Example- height, weight (at birth), leaf size
What is another type of variation?
Polygenic variation
Define species
Group of organisms that are similar in appearance, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics
What can members of a species do?
Breed together (interbreed) to produce fertile offspring
What is phylogeny?
The study of evolutionary relationships between species
Shows how clearly related different species are
How are relationships between species displayed?
On a phylogenetic tree (cladogram)
Species are more closely related to appear closer to one another on the cladogram
Point where two lines diverge away from one another represent a shared common ancestor, which is now extinct
Describe classification
Used to group life on earth
Similarities and differences, between organisms
Relies on OBSERVABLE features of an organism
What is the taxonomic rank for classification?
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
What is a mnemonic to remember the taxonomic rank?
Dumb King Phillip Came Over From Great Spain
Describe the binomial system
Written in Latin- universal language
Two parts- hence binomial
Why is the binomial system important?
- organisms can have more than one local name
- organisms referred as one thing and something else somewhere else
- local name can refer to wide range of different organisms
- translations of language may give different names
