Ecology and Evolution terms

Exam 1

What is a locus

The specific location of a gene on a chromosome.

What is a gene

A DNA sequence that contains information for a functional product.

What is a genome

All of an organism's genetic material.

What is an allele

An alternative form of a gene.

What does homozygous mean

Having two identical alleles for a gene.

What does heterozygous mean

Having two different alleles for a gene.

What does dominant mean

An allele expressed when at least one copy is present.

What does recessive mean

An allele expressed only when two copies are present.

What is a chromosome

A DNA-protein structure that carries genetic information.

What are homologous chromosomes

Chromosome pairs with the same genes in the same locations.

What are sister chromatids

Identical copies of a chromosome joined together.

What are non-sister chromatids

Chromatids from homologous chromosomes.

What is a genotype

An organism's specific combination of alleles.

What is a phenotype

An organism's observable traits.

What is the central dogma

Genetic information flows DNA → RNA → protein.

What is evolution

Change in inherited traits of populations across generations.

What is natural selection

Individuals with advantageous inherited traits leave more offspring.

What is variation

Differences in traits among individuals in a population.

What is heritability

The extent to which variation in a trait is genetically inherited.

What is differential survival

Some individuals survive better than others because of their traits.

What is differential reproduction

Some individuals produce more offspring than others.

What is fitness

An individual's reproductive success relative to others.

What is an adaptation

An inherited trait that increases survival or reproduction.

What is a mutation

A change in DNA that can create new genetic variation.

What is heredity

The transmission of genetic traits from parents to offspring.

What is microevolution

Small-scale evolutionary change within a population.

What is macroevolution

Large-scale evolutionary change above the species level.

What is artificial selection

Human-directed breeding for desired traits.

What is adaptive radiation

One lineage rapidly diversifies into many forms adapted to different environments.

What is convergent evolution

Unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits.

What is an evolutionary tree

A diagram showing hypothesized evolutionary relationships.

What was Aristotle's Scale of Nature

A hierarchy placing organisms from simple to complex, with humans above other animals.

What is special (separate) creation

The belief that species were separately created and do not change.

What is uniformitarianism

The idea that geological processes operating today also operated in the past.

Who was James Hutton

Geologist who developed early ideas supporting uniformitarianism and deep geological time.

Who was Charles Lyell

Geologist who promoted uniformitarianism and influenced Darwin.

Who was Erasmus Darwin

An early thinker who proposed that species could change over time.

Who was Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck

Naturalist who proposed an early theory of evolution through use and disuse.

Who was Charles Darwin

Naturalist who developed evolution by natural selection.

Who was Alfred Russel Wallace

Naturalist who independently developed the idea of evolution by natural selection.

What is an independent variable

The factor deliberately changed or manipulated by a researcher.

What is a dependent variable

The measured outcome that may change in response to the independent variable.

What is a control group

A comparison group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

What is a treatment

The condition or intervention given to an experimental group.

What is an observational study

A study where researchers observe without manipulating variables.

What is a natural experiment

A study using naturally occurring differences as experimental conditions.

What is a manipulative experiment

An experiment where researchers deliberately change a variable.

What is a historical study

A study using evidence from the past to investigate questions.

What is an observation

Information obtained through the senses or measurement.

What is an inference

A conclusion drawn from observations and evidence.

What is a hypothesis

A testable proposed explanation for an observation.

What is a scientific law

A well-supported description of a consistent natural pattern.

What is a scientific theory

A well-supported explanation of natural phenomena.

What is naturalism

The scientific approach of explaining nature using natural causes.

What is empiricism

The idea that knowledge should be based on observation and evidence.

What is inductive reasoning

Reasoning from specific observations to a general conclusion.

What is deductive reasoning

Reasoning from general principles to specific predictions.

What is Baconian inductivism

Francis Bacon's approach emphasizing systematic observation and induction.

What is Popperian falsification

Karl Popper's idea that scientific claims must be testable and potentially refutable.

What is confirmation bias

The tendency to favor evidence supporting existing beliefs.

What are anomalies in science

Unexpected observations that do not fit current explanations.

What does scientific integrity mean

Honestly evaluating evidence, including evidence against your own ideas.

What is high-quality ignorance

A clearly defined unanswered question that can guide useful research.

What is low-quality ignorance

A vague or poorly framed question that does not guide productive research.

What is peer review

Experts evaluate research before it is published.

What is scientific misconduct

Dishonest or unethical behavior in conducting or reporting research.

What is non-science

Ideas or activities that do not use scientific methods to investigate nature.

What is pseudoscience

Claims presented as scientific without adequate scientific evidence or methods.

5 themes unifying things of biology

organization, evolution, energy/mater, information, interactions