Biological Diversity Objective 2

What are the 4 things DNA is responsible for?

1. Genetic material has to be able to copy itself.
2. Genetic material has to move from parent to offspring.
3. Genetic material has to control all the structures and functions of cells.
4. Genetic material has to be able to explain variation within and
between species.

What is a chromosome?

A tightly wound strand of DNA

What is a gene?

An uninterrupted segment of DNA that codes for a trait.

What is an other name for characteristics?

trait

Why is it easier to find the DNA responsible for traits that show discrete variation rather than
continuous variation?

The instructions for discrete traits are found in only one area of DNA

Describe the difference between traits that show continuous versus discrete variation

Traits that show continuous variation have a range of forms

Traits that show discrete variation have a limited number of forms.

Explain the difference between genetics and the environment in determining characteristics of an
individual.

Genetics is what is given to you through hereditary DNA;the environment is refering to what you are exposed to.

Is blood type due to genetics, environment,
or both?

genetic

Is skin colour due to genetics, environment, or
both?

both

What does non-heritable mean?

It means it comes from the environment and you don’t inherit it

Is vision loss from excess staring at the sun
due to genetics, environment, or both?

It is due to the environment

How many “parent(s)” are
needed for asexual reproduction
to occur?

one

Explain binary fission and give
an example of an organism that
reproduces this way

When one cell splits into two cells. An example of this would be an amoeba.

Explain why the following
sentence is false: When an
organism reproduces by
budding, the new organism(s)
created are genetically
identical but smaller than the
“parent” throughout their lives.

They grow to be the same size

When a species reproduces
sexually, are there any
individuals that are genetically
identical to the generation
before them?

No