Unit 1 Exam

empirical/ empiricism

based on observation

parsimonious

simplest scientific explanation that fits evidence (fewest improbabilites)

theory

broad explanation from observations

fact

something that is accepted as true

inductive reasoning

a conclusion that makes sense but is may not be true

example of inductive reasoning

“The sun rose today. Therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow.”

deductive reasoning

a conclusion that must follow the premises to be true

example of deductive reasoning

“The sun has risen every day for at least as far back as human civilization has a record of it. Therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow.”

theory of evolution

randomness (mutation) + non-randomness (adaptation) = why species continue to change biologically over long periods of time

“stamp collecting”

refers to biology without the acceptance of evolution theory, there is not reason behind the observations and it is then just collection of facts with loose connections

genetic drift

shifts in alleles that randomly pop up within a population due to genetic mutations

selective pressures

environmental adaptations favors one genotype/trait, the process is nonrandom in way

mechanisms of evolutions

survival of the fittest and survival of the luckiest

survival of the fittest

nonrandom adaption from natural selection

survival of the luckiest

random mutations that stem from incorrect DNA replication

mutations

imperfectly copied DNA sequences from parent to offspring and the source of new phenotypes within a population

genetic recombination

the mixing of alleles to create more diverse combinations of alleles

sexual selection

preference in mate choice leads to evolutions

Higher DNA replication error

more mutations being created

Higher reproduction rate

more population and genetic recombination

diversify rapidly

high DNA replication error + higher reproduction rate

Adaptation

organisms tend to be well designed for the environment through selective pressures and random mutations

frequency selective pressure +low concentrations of the pressure

adaption

genotype

combination of alleles that an organism carries for a gene, would determine the phenotype

phenotype

outward/physical expression of the genotype

transduction

DNA fragments that are carried via virus (Horizontal Gene Transfer)

Transformation

DNA fragment spilling into the environment for another to take up (Horizontal Gene Transfer)

Allele

different variations of gene, genetic mutation code for different variations

Gene family

group of genes that code for different characteristics by remain similar in sequence and functions

genome

regular set of chromosomes carried and is that complete genetic blueprint

Four key elements that could produce a simple cell:

1. aquatic environment- holds the chemical soup

2. membrane bubble- to enclose the chemical soup

3. a way of concentrate molecule to life- thickening of the soup

4. self-replicating molecule- to carry information in the soup and reproduce

characteristics of the hydrothermal vents that could support the birthplace of life

1. rich chemical stew

2. range of physicochemical conditions

3. protection from UV light

science

a “way of knowning”

biology

branch of science that has to do with life

hypothesis

possible explanation

experiment

test the hypothesis

organism

single, whole living thing

cell

smallest system that meet the three criteria for life

what does “life utilizes energy and information” mean?

energy to drive change and information to control that change

evolution

theory explains where species come from

descent with modification

new species arise from ancestral species due to generational change

population

members of a species that inhabit the same area at the same time

what three things define evolution by natural selection?

1. variation within species (small DNA differences due to mutations)

2. inheritance of different variations (passing of genes from parent to offspring)

3. selection (certain variants are consistently passed on successfully becoming common)

adapted/fit

organism is better suited for environment through selection

artificial selection

actions of humans and their influence on breeding are the agents of selection, rather than the environment

convergent evolution

similar selective pressures tend to produce species with similar adaptions

chromosome

single complete molecule of DNA

DNA

nucleotide sequences that encode blueprint of life

genome

regular set of chromosomes carried, it creates a complete genetic blueprint

vertical gene transfer

from parent to offspring

horizontal gene transfer

between neighbors

prokaryotic

organism that lacks a nucleolus and uses horizontal gene transfer

eukaryotic

organisms with many cells that contain organelles

asexual reproduction

offspring are exacts copies of parent(s)

sexual reproduction

offspring are a genetic mix of parents

conjugation

small circular molecules of DNA are passed from cell to cell via a tube

transformation

DNA fragments spilled into the environment for another to take up

transduction

DNA fragments carried via virus

punctuated equilibrium

model of evolution in which progress of gradualism is interrupted by sudden leaps in evolution

Darwinian Revolution

shift in our understanding of evolution

abiogenesis

origination from non-life

nonrandom assortative mating

individuals preference to mate with partners who are either similar or different than themselves

bottleneck effect

widespread loss of genetic diversity that occurs when a population goes through major reduction in size

founder effect

widespread loss of genetic diversity that occurs when a small group of colonizers leave a parent population to establish a new population, due to carrying only a small fraction pf parent population diversity with them

Hardy-Weinberg equation

p² + 2pq + q² and p+q=1

gene flow

commingling of genes

prezygotic barrier

a challenge that inhabits ferritization from occurring (isolation lead inbreeding)

postzygotic barrier

a challenge that leads the offspring to be less likely to be successful

speciation

process of forming a new species

genetic isolation

same species become separated and divided into distinctly different separated

allopatric speciation

a speciation event that stem from geographic separation of populations

sympatric speciation

emergence of separate species from same population despite continuing to inhabit the same area

quantitive characteristics

most of the population toward mean with progressively fewer ones further away

directional selection

selective pressures work against one end of extreme phenotypes, causing the mean to shift

stabilizing selection

selective pressures disfavor both extreme phenotypes, average becomes successful

disruptive selection

environment favors extreme phenotypes, mean depresses, extremes are common

adaptive radiation

single species spawns multiple new species over short time period

morphonology (morphological species concept)

observable characters and their shared traits between species

reproduction (biological species concept)

can an organism successfully reproduce within or out of their species?

ancestry (phylogenetic species concept)

do these species share a common ancestor?

what three features are used to identify/ divide species?

morphology; reproduction; ancestry

phylogenetics

discipline that determines ancestral relationships of living things

phylogeny

origin of the tribes

phylogenetic tree

a diagram that shows the branching divergence of evolution

monophyletic group/clade

descendants that share a common ancestor

principle of parsimony

simple and straightforward explanations are more likely to be correct

radiometric dating

dating technique based on atom decay

radioisotopes

unstable forms of atoms

radioactive decay

atoms covert into another kind of atoms

daughter product

new kind of atom after decay

fertilization

union of DNA from parents to form a new cell

zygote

a new cell formed in fertilization

monophyletic

the whole branch = complete clade

paraphyletic

part of the branch = chunk of the clade

polyphyletic

bit of branch from here and there

sister groups

most closely related clades to each other

outgroup

lineage that falls outside the clade being studied

what is used to help ID a species?

high conserved sequences of DNA

what is used to help ID individuals (within a species)?

high variable sequences of DNA

biological systems

science of organizing life, describing, naming and categorizing