Genetic variation and diversification of life

Theory of evolution

evolution is the unifying principle of biology

descent with modification

gradual modification of populations of living things over time

microevolution

small scale within a single population

macroevolution

happens on a scale that transcends the boundries of a single species.

DNA

contains the information for the production of proteins

protein synthesis process

DNA strand→ transcription→ mRNA→ Translation→ protein

genome

an organisms complete set of DNA (nuclear DNA)

chromosome

one or more unique pieces of DNA (23 pairs); gene carrying structure

gene

a specific sequence of DNA; section of DNA that contains instructions for making proteins; hereditary determinate traits

Locus

positions of a gene on a chromosome

allele

different versions of a gene that code for the same feature

trait

any single characteristic or feature of an organism

genotype

the gene that an organism carries for a specific trait

phenotype

the physical manifestation of the genes for a particular trait