A3.1 Ecological Niches Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering genome size, sequencing, and DNA barcoding concepts from the lecture notes.

Genome

The complete set of genetic information in an organism; contains all instructions for growth and development.

Genome size

The total amount of DNA in a cell.

Base pairs (bp)

Units of DNA length representing a pair of nucleotides; bonds between the two DNA strands measured in bp.

Kilobase (kb)

1 kb = 1,000 base pairs.

Megabase (Mb)

1 Mb = 1,000,000 base pairs.

Gigabase (Gb)

1 Gb = 1,000,000,000 base pairs.

Influenza A virus genome size

Approximately 13.5 kilobases (kb).

Escherichia coli genome size

Approximately 4.5–5.5 megabase pairs (Mbp).

Drosophila melanogaster genome size

Approximately 144 megabases (Mb).

Homo sapiens genome size

Approximately 3.1 gigabases (Gb).

Picea sitchensis genome size

Approximately 20 gigabases (Gb).

Genome size vs organismal complexity

Generally, genome size tends to increase from viruses to bacteria to eukaryotes; prokaryotes are more complex than viruses, and eukaryotes more complex than prokaryotes.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS)

Determines the entire genetic makeup of an organism; accelerated by faster, cheaper sequencing technologies.

Personalized medicine

Medical treatment tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup, improving efficacy and reducing side effects.

Diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases

Using genetic information to diagnose diseases caused by mutations and guide targeted therapies.

DNA barcode

A DNA sequence that uniquely identifies a species; used to identify species by comparing samples to reference libraries.

Reference libraries (DNA barcodes)

Databases of DNA barcode sequences used to match and identify species.

Environmental DNA (eDNA)

DNA collected from environmental samples (e.g., water, soil) to detect species presence.

DNA barcoding for biodiversity

Using DNA barcodes to rapidly assess the biodiversity of an ecosystem by identifying species present.