Midterm LifeScience

Scientific Theory

An explanatory hypothesis for a natural phenomenon that is exceptionally well supported by empirical data. [Gk., theorein, to consider]

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon

Superstition

The irrational belief that actions not related by logic to a course of events can influence an outcome.

Pseudoscience

Hypotheses and theories not supported by trustworthy and methodical scientific studies

Anecdote

Observation of one or only a few instances of a phenomenon.

Natural Selection

A mechanism of evolution that occurs when, for a heritable variation of a trait, individuals with one version of the trait have greater reproductive success than individuals with a different version of that trait

Sexual Selection

The process by which natural selection favors traits, such as ornaments or fighting behavior, that give an advantage to individuals of one sex in attracting mating partners.

Hamilton’s Rule

rB-C

Components of Natural Selection

Heritability, Differential Reproductive Success, Variation among individuals

Components of Evolution

Migration, Genetic Drift, Mutation, Natural Selection

Founder Effect

A genetic phenomenon that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes isolated from a larger population, leading to reduced genetic diversity and different allele frequencies.

Bottleneck Effect

a sharp reduction in population size due to environmental events or human activities, leading to a loss of genetic diversity.

Modes of selection

Stablizing, Directional, Disruptive

Norm of Reaction

The set of all possible phenotypes for a given genotype, if raised under all possible enviromental conditions

Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium

The principle that allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

Components of Hard Weinberg Equilibrium

No evolution is occurring, there is random mating

Mendel’s First Law

The law of segregation, stating that alleles separate during gamete formation, resulting in offspring inheriting one allele from each parent.

Human Genome

The complete set of genetic information for humans, consisting of all the DNA sequences in the chromosomes. 46 chromosomes

Karyotype

A profile of an individual's chromosomes

Mendel’s 2nd law

The law of independent assortment, which states that genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other during gamete formation.

Complete theory of kindness

Reciprocity and Shared Genes

Kin Selection

A natural selection process where individuals favor the reproductive success of their relatives, enhancing the survival of shared genes.

Inclusive Fitness

A measure of an organism's genetic success based on the survival and reproduction of its relatives, as well as its own offspring.

Direct Fitness

The genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation through its own offspring.

Indirect fitness

the genetic contribution to the next generation through the offspring of relatives, enhancing overall genetic success.

Belding’s Ground Squirrels

Conditions for reciprocal altruism

1. Repeated interactions

2. High benefit to recipient relative to the cost of the actor

3. The ability to recognize and keep tabs on individuals

Maladaptive behavior

A behavior that is detrimental to an individual’s survival.

5 elements of scientific thinking

Make observations, Formulate a hypothesis, Devise a testable prediction, Conduct a critical experiment

Mitosis

The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

The process of cell division that results in diverse daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes.

Polygenic

Describes a trait that is influenced by many different genes

Pleiotropy

A phenomenon in which an individual gene influences multiple traits

Darwin’s Persuasion

Earth is old, Species may change, Species go extinct, Earth’s features change over time