Variety of life Flashcards
What is the biochemical basis for all life?
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins
What is genetic diversity?
Diversity of genes in a species
What is species diversity
Diversity among species in an ecosystem
What is ecosystem diversity?
Variety of ecosystems within the biosphere
What is the Simpson’s Index?
The measure of biodiversity in an area
What is the formula for the Simpson’s Index?
D=(∑ni(ni-1)/N(N-1)
What does each of the values represent?
D=biodiversity (closer to 0 more diversity)
N=aggregate number of organisms
n=total number of organisms of each individual species
What are the principles of taxonomy
Nomenclature= scientifically naming organisms using the binomial system e.g. H.sapiens
Systematics=placing organisms in groups based on similarities and differences
What is a species?
A group of individuals of common ancestry that closely resemble each other and are normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring
List the hierarchy of taxa
Species Genus Family Order Class Phylum Kingdom
Describe what methods are used in systematics
Morphology
Anatomy
Cell structure
Physiology
What are the five kingdoms?
Prokaryotae Protoctista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Describe prokaryotae
- Structure: no nucleus/nucleoid, flagellum, plasmids, slime capsule, free ribosomes
- reproduce by mitosis
- Example: rod shaped bacterium
Describe the features of Protoctista
- Eukaryotic
- Unicellular/ showing limited differentiation
- Some are heterotrophs and others are autotrophic
Describe the features of Plantae
- Eukaryotic
- Cellulose cell wall
- Autotrophic
- Chlorophyll in chloroplasts
