BIO 111 Final Exam

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Genome

All the genetic information in an organism; all of an organism's chromosomes.

Genetic Engineering

A technology that includes the process of manipulating or altering the genetic material of a cell resulting in desirable functions or outcomes that would not occur naturally.

Transgenic Organism

organism that is genetically engineered by inserting a gene from another organism

PCR

(polymerase chain reaction) a method used to rapidly make multiple copies of a specific segment of DNA; can be used to make millions of copies of DNA from a very small amount of DNA

Restriction Enzyme

A degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts up DNA.

CRISPR Cas-9

The enzyme cas 9 is extracted from bacteria and trained to edit a specific gene. This enzyme acts like helicase and it Unwinds the DNA and can cut out bad parts.

DNA Ligase

A linking enzyme essential for DNA replication; catalyzes the covalent bonding of the 3' end of a new DNA fragment to the 5' end of a growing chain.

Vector

an organism, often an arthropod like a mosquito or tick, that transmits pathogens (disease-causing agents) from one host to another.

Recombinant DNA

DNA that has been formed artificially by combining constituents from different organisms.

Biological Species Concept

Definition of a species as a population or group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring, but are not able to produce viable, fertile offspring with members of other populations.

morphological species concept

characterizes a species by body shape and other structural features

Allopatric Speciation

The formation of new species in populations that are geographically isolated from one another.

Macroevolution

large-scale evolutionary changes that take place over long periods of time

homologus structures

similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor

analogus structures

A structure that has similar function in seperate lineages but different anatomy and lineages.

microevolution

evolutionary change within a species or small group of organisms, especially over a short period.

Communication

any process that living organisms translate information

Altruism

unselfish regard for the welfare of others

Kin Selection

the idea that behaviors that help a genetic relative are favored by natural selection

Reciprocal Altruism

behavior that benefits another with the expectation that those benefits will be returned in the future

Fixed Action Pattern

In animal behavior, a sequence of unlearned acts that is essentially unchangeable and, once initiated, usually carried to completion.

Sexual Selection

A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates.

Sexual dimorphism

distinct difference in size or appearance between the sexes of an animal in addition to difference between the sexual organs themselves.

inclusive fittness theory

can effect the survival and reproduction success in relatives (eg take personal risk to defend relative better enabeling them to survive/reproduce)

Associative learning

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning).