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Biology > Variations In Living Organisms > Flashcards

Variations In Living Organisms Flashcards

1
Q

What is variation in living organisms?

A

Variation refers to the differences in physical, genetic, or behavioral traits among individuals of the same species.

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2
Q

True or False: All variations in living organisms are genetic.

A

False

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3
Q

What are the two main types of variation?

A

Genetic variation and environmental variation.

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4
Q

Fill in the blank: Genetic variation is primarily caused by ________.

A

mutations

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5
Q

Define genetic variation.

A

Genetic variation refers to the differences in the genetic makeup of individuals within a population.

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6
Q

Which process leads to genetic variation during reproduction?

A

Meiosis

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7
Q

What is the role of mutations in variation?

A

Mutations introduce new alleles into a population, contributing to genetic diversity.

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8
Q

True or False: Environmental factors can influence phenotypic variation.

A

True

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9
Q

What is phenotypic variation?

A

Phenotypic variation refers to the observable differences in traits among individuals.

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10
Q

Which type of variation can be influenced by climate, diet, and lifestyle?

A

Environmental variation

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11
Q

What is the significance of variation in a population?

A

Variation increases the chances of survival and adaptation to changing environments.

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12
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of natural selection acts on ________ variation.

A

phenotypic

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13
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can lead to new traits.

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14
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a type of genetic variation? A) Single nucleotide polymorphisms B) Chromosomal mutations C) Environmental influences

A

C) Environmental influences

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15
Q

How do alleles contribute to genetic variation?

A

Alleles are different forms of a gene that can result in different traits among individuals.

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16
Q

True or False: All traits are influenced by both genetics and environment.

A

True

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17
Q

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

A

The Hardy-Weinberg principle describes the genetic variation of a population that is not evolving.

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18
Q

Fill in the blank: The Hardy-Weinberg equation is p² + 2pq + q² = ________.

A

1

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19
Q

What does ‘p’ represent in the Hardy-Weinberg equation?

A

The frequency of the dominant allele.

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20
Q

What does ‘q’ represent in the Hardy-Weinberg equation?

A

The frequency of the recessive allele.

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21
Q

What is directional selection?

A

Directional selection is a type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over others.

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22
Q

Give an example of stabilizing selection.

A

Stabilizing selection can be seen in human birth weights, where extreme weights are selected against.

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23
Q

What is disruptive selection?

A

Disruptive selection favors individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range.

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24
Q

True or False: Genetic drift has a larger effect in small populations.

A

True

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25
Q

What is the founder effect?

A

The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic diversity.

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26
Q

How can gene flow affect variation?

A

Gene flow introduces new alleles into a population, increasing genetic diversity.

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27
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

A phenotype is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism.

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28
Q

Fill in the blank: The observable traits of an organism are influenced by its ________ and environment.

A

genotype

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29
Q

What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?

A

A genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism, while a phenotype is the expression of that genetic makeup.

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30
Q

True or False: Environmental variation can lead to changes in genotype.

A

False

31
Q

What are polygenic traits?

A

Polygenic traits are influenced by multiple genes, leading to a range of phenotypes.

32
Q

Give an example of a polygenic trait.

A

Human height is an example of a polygenic trait.

33
Q

What is a phenotype ratio?

A

The phenotype ratio is the relative frequency of different phenotypes in a population.

34
Q

Fill in the blank: The term ________ refers to the genetic makeup of an individual.

A

genotype

35
Q

What is the purpose of the AQA Biology A-Level curriculum regarding variations?

A

To understand the mechanisms and significance of variation in living organisms.

36
Q

What is a genetic marker?

A

A genetic marker is a specific DNA sequence that can be used to identify individuals or species.

37
Q

True or False: All individuals in a population are genetically identical.

A

False

38
Q

What is the impact of selective breeding on variation?

A

Selective breeding reduces genetic variation by favoring specific traits.

39
Q

What is a clone?

A

A clone is an organism that is genetically identical to another organism.

40
Q

Fill in the blank: The study of heredity is known as ________.

A

genetics

41
Q

What does the term ‘adaptive radiation’ refer to?

A

Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.

42
Q

What is the role of the environment in natural selection?

A

The environment determines which traits are advantageous for survival and reproduction.

43
Q

True or False: Genetic diversity is important for the survival of a species.

A

True

44
Q

What is speciation?

A

Speciation is the process by which new species arise from existing species.

45
Q

Fill in the blank: The ________ hypothesis explains how species evolve through gradual changes.

A

gradualism

46
Q

What is the difference between allopatric and sympatric speciation?

A

Allopatric speciation occurs when populations are geographically isolated, while sympatric speciation occurs within the same geographic area.

47
Q

What is a homologous structure?

A

A homologous structure is an anatomical feature that is similar in different species due to shared ancestry.

48
Q

Fill in the blank: Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on the concept of ________ selection.

A

natural

49
Q

What does ‘survival of the fittest’ mean?

A

It refers to the idea that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

50
Q

What is a phenotype frequency?

A

Phenotype frequency is the proportion of a particular phenotype in a population.

51
Q

True or False: Phenotypic variation is solely due to genetic differences.

A

False

52
Q

What is the significance of genetic diversity in ecosystems?

A

Genetic diversity enhances ecosystem resilience and adaptability to changing conditions.

53
Q

Fill in the blank: The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring is called ________.

A

inheritance

54
Q

What is the function of the gene pool?

A

The gene pool contains all the alleles for every gene in a population.

55
Q

What is the difference between a dominant and a recessive allele?

A

A dominant allele masks the effect of a recessive allele in heterozygous individuals.

56
Q

True or False: A recessive trait can be expressed in a heterozygous individual.

A

False

57
Q

What is the purpose of a Punnett square?

A

A Punnett square is used to predict the genotypes and phenotypes of offspring from genetic crosses.

58
Q

Fill in the blank: The observable characteristics of an organism are determined by its ________.

A

genotype

59
Q

What is a trait?

A

A trait is a specific characteristic or feature of an organism.

60
Q

What is the role of chromosomes in genetic variation?

A

Chromosomes carry genes, and variations in chromosome number or structure can lead to genetic differences.

61
Q

True or False: All individuals in a species have the same number of chromosomes.

A

False

62
Q

What is a fitness landscape?

A

A fitness landscape is a representation of how different genotypes or phenotypes perform in terms of fitness.

63
Q

Fill in the blank: The term ________ refers to the genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation.

A

fitness

64
Q

What is the effect of inbreeding on genetic variation?

A

Inbreeding often reduces genetic variation and can increase the likelihood of genetic disorders.

65
Q

True or False: Gene therapy can be used to introduce new genetic material into an organism.

A

True

66
Q

What is a transgenic organism?

A

A transgenic organism is one that has been genetically modified to contain genes from another species.

67
Q

Fill in the blank: The process of selecting organisms with desirable traits for breeding is called ________ breeding.

A

selective

68
Q

What is the significance of the Galápagos Islands in the study of variation?

A

The Galápagos Islands provided key evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution due to the unique species found there.

69
Q

True or False: Artificial selection is the same as natural selection.

A

False

70
Q

What is the concept of adaptive traits?

A

Adaptive traits are characteristics that enhance an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

71
Q

Fill in the blank: The ________ effect can lead to a loss of genetic variation in small populations.

A

bottleneck

72
Q

What is the main focus of evolutionary biology?

A

The main focus of evolutionary biology is to study the processes that drive the evolution of species.

73
Q

True or False: Variation is only important in evolutionary contexts.

A

False

Biology (28 decks)

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