Year 8 Evolution, Inheritance and Reproduction Flashcards
evolution
the process where small changes in organisms can occur over long periods of time
natural selection
a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
ovaries
stores and releases eggs
Fallopian tube
tube that carries eggs from the ovary to the uterus
uterus
where the baby develops
cervix
narrow opening from uterus to vagina
vagina
a muscular tube that connects the uterus. Sperm is deposited here
urethra
tube that carries urine out of the body
testes
produces sperm and testosterone
scrotum
protects the testes and keeps sperm at the right heat
glands
adds fluids to the sperm to keep it alive
sperm ducts
carry sperm from testes to penis
urethra
carries urine or sperm out through the penis
penis
organ which releases sperm into the vagina
hormones
chemicals produced by your glands that regulate the activities of different body cells
Oestrogen
the female sex hormone responsible for sexual development
testosterone
the male sex hormone responsible for sexual development
menstruation
the shedding of the uterus lining , days 1-5
allele
different versions of the same gene
biodiversity
the variety of living organisms within an ecosystem
what shape is DNA?
double helix
gene
A section of a chromosome; genes for hair colour, eye colour etc. Genes build up a persons characteristic, almost like a set of instructions.
DNA bases
GCAT. like puzzle pieces, they can only attach to a specific base
What are the 2 pairs in GCAT
GC AT
DNA mutations
DNA which can be copied wrong (e.g. red hair, heterochromia and blue eyes)
What are some characteristics affected by the environment
Weight, height and size
Characteristics affected by genes
Hair colour, skin colour, blood type
Continuous variation
Variation which may have any one of a large range of values e.g. height
Discontinuous variation
Variation which can only have one of fixed options e.g. eye colour
