BSC 101 Exam 2

what is the structure of DNA called?

the double helix; 2 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 and then RNA to protein

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

TRANSCRIPTION happens _______ translation.

before

Where does translation happen?

in the ribosome

The genetic dogma is also known as…

gene expression/protein synthesis

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 (64 codons to code for approximately 20 amino acids)

gene expression

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

carpel

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

style

connects the stigma to the ovary chamber

Reproductive Cloning (biotech tool)

produces offspring that is genetically identical to the individual who donated the body cell diploid nucleus

gene therapy

the transplantation of normal genes into cells in place of missing/defective cells to correct genetic disorders.

Production of vaccines, antibiotics, and hormones

using molecular cloning and manipulating fungal cells to produce a gene product such as the flu vaccine, penicillin, human insulin, human growth hormones

stigma

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

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

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

-Bees like bright-colored flowers

mutualism

interaction between 2 species and both species receive a benefit from the interaction (+/+)

predation

when an organism eats another for energy and nutrients (+/-)

mechanical defense of prey

discourages predators/herbivores by inflicting physical pain (thorns) or making it difficult to eat (turtle shell)

chemical defense of prey

bitter, distasteful, or toxic compounds released by prey to deter predators

physical defense of prey

body shape or coloration that makes prey hard to detect (camouflage) or that warns of toxicity

commensalism

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

energy flow in an ecosystem

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

example of keystone species

Yellowstone National Park's wolves: the wolves altered deer behavior, other organisms began to show up in new habitats, and the rivers changed

keystone species

a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem

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

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

consequences of human population growth

insufficient resources, unequal distribution of resources, starvation, rapid spread of disease, less effective sanitation, declining life expectancy

evaporation

the change from water as a liquid to water as a gas (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

The greenhouse effect

radiation from the sun comes through the atmosphere to Earth and is then reflected back to space. But 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

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

the rising CO2 levels

How can we prevent/combat climate change?

power homes with renewables, fuel-efficient cars, use compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, plant trees, etc

consequences of climate change

losing Miami and New Orleans due to glacial and ice cap melting , sea level rise, more severe weather, economic losses such as loss of tourism

Genetic Biodiversity

refers to the collection of genes within a population

Chemical Biodiversity

Any chemical substance produced by living organisms, used for chemo therapy and pesticides on trees

Ecosystem diversity

the number of different ecosystems on Earth

Species Biodiversity

the number of species in a region

Threats to biodiversity

Habitat loss (dodo bird- 6th mass extinction), over harvesting, exotic/invasive species, climate change, etc..

parasitism

A relationship in which one organism lives on or in a host and harms it (flea and a dog)

trophic levels

producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, (Apex) tertiary consumer

biomagnification

the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed

mimicry

The resemblance of one species to another species for protection or other advantages

DNA extraction

the process of separating DNA from the rest of the cell

competitive exclusion principle

two species can’t coexist if ALL necessary resources are the same

gel electrophoresis

separates DNA molecules based on size

transgenic organism

organisms that contain functional recombinant DNA from a different organism (goats producing spider silk)

genome

all of an organism's genetic material

proteome

an organism's complete set of proteins expressed

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

climate refugees

People displaced by environmental changes brought about by climate change, such as rising sea levels and increased exposure to hurricanes and floods

habitat fragmentation

breakup of a habitat into smaller pieces, usually as a result of human activities

habitat degradation

the damage to a habitat due to pollution

overharvesting

harvesting a renewable resource quicker than the source can renew itself, leads to the destruction of the resource