BSC 101: Exam 2 (Illinois State University)

What is the structure of DNA called?

-the double helix

-adenine pairs with thymine

- they form 2 hydrogen bonds together

-guanine pairs with cytosine

- they form 3 hydrogen bonds together

the central dogma

while genetic information is transferred from parent to offspring via DNA duplication, genetic information is transferred from DNA to RNA (which is called transcription) and then RNA to protein (which is called translation)

translation

RNA translated into protein (every 3 RNA bases codes for an amino acid)

transcription

copying of DNA code to RNA, one nucleotide at a time so it is complementary to the DNA

Universal Genetic Code

all living organisms ever discovered use the same code; more evidence all life shares the same common ancestor (codons)

Codon

3 letter "words" that code for an amino acid

gene expression

the process of turning on a gene to produce RNA and protein

Gel Electrophoresis (biotech tool)

separates DNA strands based on length (smaller molecules move faster through the gel than large ones)

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) (biotech tool)

taking a few copies of DNA and making millions of copies (ex: use when you only have one drop of blood but need more to solve a crime)

Molecular Cloning (biotech tool)

- extract a gene from one species

- insert into a vector

- grow bacterial colonies

- bacterial cells that took up the gene express the protein product of the gene

(how insulin is made)

Reproductive Cloning (biotech tool)

the copying of an entire molecular organism like a sheep

- egg cell: haploid nucleus is removed

- a diploid nucleus from an individual's body cell is inserted into the egg cell

- electrically stimulate egg cell, which starts dividing

- resulting offspring is a genetic identical to the individual who donated the body cell diploid nucleus

Gene Therapy

used to treat genetic disorders resulting in a missing or dysfunctional gene/protein

- the functional gene is cloned into a vector

- gene is inserted into the person's cell's genome

- functional gene gets expressed

Production of vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones

use molecular cloning to produce a gene product such as:

- H1N1 flu vaccine

- penicillin and many other antibiotics

- human insulin

- human growth hormones

created by manipulating fungal cells

carpel

female ovary of the flower which is responsible for producing the ova (female cells)

stigma

pollen receptor of the flower and is a sticky tip at the top of a carpel

style

connects the stigma to the ovary chamber

ovary

houses the ovules at the bottom of the flower (ovule is a small egg)

stamen

male reproductive part of the flower that contains the filament and the anther

anther

produces pollen

filament

stalk-like structure that attaches to the base of the flower which supports the anther

pollination

the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, or plant to allow fertilization

fertilization

action or process of fertilizing the ovules involving the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote

pollination syndrome

flower cues that attract different groups of pollinators

Name different kinds of pollination syndromes and their likely pollinators

- Bees like bright colored flowers

- bees pollinate bananas, mangos, guava, etc. things that have sweet nectar

- birds like red flowers

- butterflies like flowers with landing pads because they have long tongues and go for flowers that have pollen deep down

mutualism

interaction between 2 species and both species receive a benefit from the interaction

predation

when an organism eats another for energy and nutrients (can avoid this by camoflauge, bright colors that make them seem poisonous, mimicking something harmful, or actually being poisonous)

competition

when living in the same environment, two species cannot coexist in a community if they're competing for all of the same resources

commensalism

when one species benefits from the relationship but the other is unaffected (bird nesting in a tree)

parasitism

living in another organism and living off of their nutrients

energy flow in an ecosystem?

energy is lost at each trophic level (lowest at the Tertiary consumers)

discuss keystone species

an example would be yellowstone national park's wolves: number of deer was large but when the wolves arrived, the deer behavior was altered and they avoided areas where they could be trapped. other organisms began to show up in new habitats.

What limits the length of food chains

energy being lost at each trophic level

Explain human population growth

the population steadily stayed the same until about 2000 when it shot up to an extremely high number

Consequences of human population growth

- insufficient resources

- unequal distribution of resources

- starvation

- rapid spread of disease

- less effective sanitation

- declining of life expectancy

Potential solutions to human population growth

-reduce your ecological/carbon footprint

- beware of perceived obsolescence

- use birth control and plan your family

- freely available birth control

- education for everyone, especially girls

evaporation

moving water into atmosphere (water vapor)

transpiration

plants absorb liquid through roots and water evaporates through leaves

sublimation

frozen water into water vapor

condensation

water vapor to liquid (how clouds form)

precipitation

rain, snow, hail, sleet

subsurface water flow

water that percolates through soil and becomes groundwater or surface runoff

ice/snowmelt

solid water melts and percolates through soil and becomes groundwater or surface runoff

stream flow

flow in streams from high elevations towards sea level

The greenhouse effect

radiation from the sun comes through the atmosphere to earth and is then reflected back to space. some of it gets trapped by gasses in the atmosphere. (amount of heat is due to these gasses)

climate

long-term predictable atmospheric conditions of a specific area

weather

conditions of atmosphere during a short period of time (48 hours)

global warming

rising global mean temperature due to an increase in trapping greenhouse gases such as CO2 and H2O

climate change

changes in temperature, seasonality, refers to different factors on different scales

the rising CO2 levels

What is the evidence supporting the claiming that humans have induced climate change?

Consequences of climate change

- losing miami and new orleans to ice melting

- Sea Level rise

- glacial and ice cap melting

- more severe weather

- economic losses such as loss of tourism

How can we prevent climate change?

- power homes with renewables

- fuel efficient cars

- eat at a low trophic level and local

- plant trees

- watch less TV

- keep your car tuned up

- set the AC at 78 degrees in the summer

- wash your clothes in cold water

- use compact fluorescent or LED bulbs

different types of biodiversity

-genetic

-chemical

-ecosystem

-species

genetic biodiversity

genetic variations

-raw material of adaptation

-genomes in population

-impossible to predict which traits will be selected for

chemical biodiversity

-one way to measure diversity that is important to human health and welfare

--neem tree

--rosie periwinkle, chemo therapy drug

ecosystem biodiversity

number of different ecosystems on Earth or in geographical area

species diversity

number of variety of species in particular region

threats to biodiversity

-habitat loss

-fragmentation

-degradation

-over harvesting

-exotic/invasive animals

-climate change

way biodiversity can be protected

-conscious decision making

--consumer choices

--follow hunting regulations

--reduce carbon footprints

-support conservation in preserves

--visit state parks

-support habitat restoration

-support zoos/aquarias

why genetic biodiversity should be protected

-adaptations prevent species from going extinct when environments change

-it could effect our food supply

--ex. corn

why chemical biodiversity should be protected

-bio-prospectors who are going into these countries, which are poor, and learning the medicinal traits of these plants and using them and making money off of it

why ecosystem biodiversity should be protected

-the loss of these areas means the loss of: interaction between species, the loss of coadaptaion, and the loss of productivity that they can create

--prairies are extinct now

how plastics are harmful for biodiversity

-hard to recycle

-the melting point of it

-PET plastics sink in water and do not make it far from land

-PET caps are created in different labs and they will float in seawater

-goose sized chicks are dying because of these bottle caps, stuck in their stomachs

-plastic rings are being stuck on these animals bodies

Great Pacific garbage patch

-journey of the plastic caps that make it sea solo

-where these organisms are going to get food for their offspring and mistaken all the garbage for food and feed it to their young which kills them