Biology - Adaptations and Genetic Diversity

Population

a group of individuals of the same species living in the same location

Gene pool

the total number of individual alleles within a particular population

increased alleles in a gene pool cause

increased genetic diversity

meiosis, mutations and random mating cause

increased genetic variation

‘fittest trait’

new allele/trait that gives a survival advantage during environmental change

sexual reproduction

the fusion of two distinct haploid gametes to produce a single diploid zygote composed of two sets of chromosomes

reproductive strategies

adaptations to reproduction that improve the success of survival of a species

fertilisation

the process by which two gametes (such as sperm and egg cells) fuse and form a zygote

zygote

the diploid cell formed by the combination of two haploid gamete cells

asexual reproduction

producing offspring without the fusion of gametes

clone

a genetically identical organism or section of DNA

binary fission

a type of asexual reproduction where one organism divides into two identical organisms

budding

a type of asexual reproduction where a group of cells form a bud and break away from the original organism to form a clone

vegetative propagation

a type of asexual reproduction where a plant grows from fragments, such as stem or root cuttings, of its parents

parthenogenisis

a type of asexual reproduction where an embryo can develop from a single unfertilised gamete

reproductive cloning technologies

artificially induced human interventions to produce genetically identical clones

somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)

the transference of a somatic cell nucleus into an enucleated egg cell

embryo splitting

the division of an early embryo into several individual embryos

plant tissue culturing (micropropagation)

the cloning of plant cells an a nutrient culture medium in a controlled environment

plant grafting

the attachment of two individual plant stems together

abiotic factor

a property of the environment relating to non-living things. e.g temp, nutrient and water availability

biotic factor

a property of the environment relating to living things. e.g predator-prey relationships, competition and symbiotic relationships

tolerance range

the range of environmental conditions in which an organism can survive

adaptation

a change that makes an organism better suited to its environment

structural adaptation

evolved modifications to an organism’s physical structure

physiological adaptation

evolved modifications to an organism’s internal function or metabolic processes

behavioural adaptations

evolved modifications to an organism’s actions

thermoregulation

the homeostatic process of maintaining a constant internal body temperature

biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or within a particular habitat

community

a group of interacting populations of different species in the same geographical region

ecosystem

multiple communities interacting with one another and their physical environment

population size

the number of individuals in a population

carrying capacity

the max population size than an environment can sustain indefinetely

population distribution

the range of geographical areas that members of a population can be found in

uniform distribution

random distribution

clumped ditsribution

symbiosis

an interaction between two organisms of different species living in close proximity to each other

mutualism

both parties experience some overall benefit

commensalism

one gains some benefit while the other experiences no significant benefit or harm

predation

one organism hunts and kills another organism for food

parasitism

one organism obtains nutrients at the expense of a host organism

amensalism

one organism experiences some negative effect while the other experiences neither a beneficial nor negative effect

competition

two or more organisms competing for the same pool of resources

interspecific competition

the competition for resources between members of different species

intraspecific competition

the competition for resources between members of the same species

food chain

the direction of movement of energy and nutrients

producer (autotroph)

makes own food through photosynthesis

consumer (heterotroph)

an organism that gets its energy by consuming other organisms as it cannot produce its own food

detrivore

an animal that feeds on dead organic material (worms)

decomposers

an organism that decomposes organic material (bacteria/fungi)

keystone species

a species whose effects on an ecosystem are greater than expected relative to its population size

apex predator

a predator that has no natural predators and is at the top of its food chain

ecosystem engineer

an organism that creates, significantly alters, or maintains the structure of an environment

food web

multiple food chains in an ecosystem all interacting together

pyramids of bio mass and energy

only 10% of the energy taken in becomes incorporated into the body of the consumer (next trophic level)

biomimicry

applying organism adaptations to their lifestyle

what do aboriginal peoples strive for

mutualism