Variation in Reproductive Biology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to reproductive biology and variation in sexual characteristics.

Gametes

Haploid cells that fuse together in sexual reproduction.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Internal Genitalia

The reproductive organs located within the body.

External Genitalia

The reproductive organs located outside the body.

XX & XY

Common sex chromosome configurations, with XX typically representing females and XY representing males.

Differences of Sex Development (DSD)

Variations in sex development where an individual's sex chromosomes do not match their sexual anatomy.

Eusocial Insects

Insects that live in colonies and have a division of labor between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals, such as bees and ants.

Monoecious

Refers to a plant species that produces both male and female gametophytes.

Dioecious

Refers to a plant species where male and female gametophytes are produced by separate individuals.

Ploidy

The number of sets of chromosomes in a cell, often described as haploid (N) or diploid (2N).

Genotype

Information stored in the DNA

Gene

a segment of DNA that contains the
instructions for building a specific protein or
performing a particular function

Phenotype

All structures

processes and
behaviors of an organism.

Trait

facet of the phenotype

Heritable Trait

a trait encoded by genes
that is inherited across generation

Evolution

changes in the heritable traits of a biological population
over generational time

Population

a group of organisms from the
same species, existing at the same time in
the same space

Hyperplasia

an increase in cell

number by mitosis. Multicellular

organisms ONLY

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size

ectoderm

skin, nervous system

Mesoderm

Muscles, circulatory systems, excretory systems, bones, etc.

endoderm

gut lining and derivatives

gastrulation

cells reposition to form three layers

organogenesis - neurulation

formation of neural tibe - spinal cord and brain

organogenesis - somitogenesis

somites form - protective vertebre and muscle blocks

polarity

establish area of symmetry - before or after fertilization

cleavage

cell division growth

migration

to differentiate

heterotopy

where a gene gets expressed

heterochrony

when a gene gets expressed/how long

heterometry

How much a gene is expressed

cotyledon

first leaves of a plant

the term for budding/regeneration in plants

vegetive propagation

Synapomorphy

shared derived trait