Sexy Biology Scholarship Terms

Philopatry/philopatric

The species returns to its birthplace to breed

Serial founder effect

A founder population of the founder population

Aposematism/aposematic colouration

species has bright colours/patterns to warn predators

allochronic speciation

speciation that occurs due to differences in breeding time

Introgression/introgressive hybridisation

the transfer of genetic material from one species into the gene pool of another through repeated backcrossing of an interspecific hybrid.

cryptic species

two or more distinct species that are morphologically identical

genetic assimilation

a process where a phenotype originally produced response to an environmental condition, causing an epigenetic shift, later becomes genetically encoded via selection.

stochasticity

randomness/unpredictable fluctuations

Mullerian mimicry

when two ore more equally toxic/harmful species evolve to share the same aposematic colouration, sharing the cost of ‘educating’ predators.

Batesian mimicry

when one species that is harmless copies the aposematic colouration of another

crypsis

camouflage

semelparity/semelparous

a species that reproduces in one massive fatal event (e.g. salmon)

iteroparity/iteroparous

species that reproduce mutliple times over their lifespan

Kinesis

non-directional change in locomotion due to stimulus

taxis

directional movement towards or away from a stimulus

conspecifics

members of the same species

heterospecifics

members of a different species

Bipedalism (obligate vs facultative)

must walk on two legs vs can when needed

Neoteny

the evolutionary process in which an organism delays its physical development, causing it to retain juvenile traits into adulthood

Polygamy

individuals have multiple mates at the same time

polygyny

male mates with multiple females

polyandry

female mates with multiple males

polygyandry

both females and males are promiscuous

PCR

amplifies small samples of DNA

Gel electrophoresis

separating DNA fragments by size and negative charge. Used for determining paternity/maternity, identify hybridization, or asses genetic diversity.

restriction enzymes & ligase

used to cut and recombine DNA, producing recombinant DNA/transgenesis.

DNA sequencing

used to compare nucleotide or amino acid sequences across populations to produce phylogenetic trees, calculate molecular clock divergence times, or identify specific point mutations

gene drive

a natural biological or artificially engineered process that vastly increases the chances a specific gene or trait is inherited by offspring, allowing it to spread rapidly through an entire population over generations.

CRISPR Cas-9

can activate/deactivate certain genes/alleles, or replace them with foreign DNA. Can be used for transgenesis, gene drives, editing crops, or treating single-gene disorders.

Transgenesis

Inserting foreign DNA into a genome. Can help to produce environmentally resistant species, increase crop yields, etc. Often uses a vector (most commonly, a plasmid).

Short tandem repeats

short, repeating sections of DNA used for comparison between individuals. Can be used for DNA profiling, pedigree analysis, tracking genetic diversity.

RNAi (interface)

natural cellular process that silences specific genes by intercepting and destroying their messenger RNA instructions before they can be used to build proteins. Lowers a genes temporary activity.

Marker-associated selection

Using molecular markers (SNPs/STRs) to identify desirable alleles early in seedlings/embryos rather than waiting for adult phenotypes.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SNCT)

Creates a copy of a living or dead organism using a body cell and a surrogate mother