full biological diversity study guide (with vocab)

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Diversity  

measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem 

Diversity index 

Compares diversity of organisms in the same area 

Variation 

• Differences in characteristics of organisms caused by genetic and environmental factors 

• distribution in genetics within a species 

• Ex: chromosomes, DNA 

Organism 

any living creature 

Species 

• narrow classification grouping for organisms

• A group of organisms that share similar characteristics 

• Generally, organisms can interbreed and produce fertile offspring  

Environment 

the surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives 

Ovum 

female gamete

Sperm 

male gamete

Ecosystem 

all the interacting parts in an ecological community 

Ecological community 

All organisms of all species that inhabit and interact in geological area 

Ecologic niche 

species use of biotic and abiotic factors 

Gene 

• the parts of a cell that determine an organism's characteristics 

• Passed down from parent to offspring 

• One gene -> one trait 

Cell 

smallest unit that can perform the functions of life 

Characteristic 

a feature or quality belonging typically to an organism serving to identify it 

Symbiosis 

• interaction between organisms of different species, living near each other in a relationship that lasts over time 

• Can be positive, negative, or neutral 

• Three types 

Mutualism 

beneficial to both organisms 

Commensalism 

beneficial to one organism, while the other is unaffected 

Parasitism 

beneficial to one organism, while the other is harmed 

Offspring 

product of the reproductive processes of an organism 

Embryo 

• a multicellular organism during early development 

• Result of continued cell division 

• Multicellular life 

• Developed in female 

Fertilization 

Female and male gamete fuse 

continuous variation

trait that can change gradually

discrete variation

distinct values

genetic 

relating to the inheritance of characteristics

Environmental 

Human impact on the natural world

native 

organism in its naturally occurring habitat 

Mammals  

• Possess hair 

• Three middle ear bones 

• Neocortex (region of the brain) 

• Brain regulates body temperature and circulatory system 

Speciation 

Evolution of different species from one ancestor  

Adaptation 

• Evolutionary process 

• Organisms have a higher chance to live and reproduce in it’s habitat 

• Identified as structural or behavioral  

• Ex: natural selection 

Structural adaptation and behavioral adaptation 

Structural adaptation

• An inherited physical characteristic 

behavioral adaptation 

• An inherited characteristic behavior 

Generalist  

• Organism with generalized requirements 

• Adaptations that allow it to survive in various conditions 

• Depend on variety of food source 

• Broad niche 

Specialist and specialization  

Specialist 

• Organism adapted to very specific environments 

• Narrow niche 

Specialization  

• adaptations for surviving in very specific environments 

Interdependence  

Organisms depend on each other for survival 

Reproduction 

• Produces new individual of a species 

• determines the variation it will have 

• Can be identical or different 

Asexual reproduction 

• Only one parent 

• All offspring identical to parent 

• Same characteristics 

• Several types 

Binary fission  

• Single celled organisms 

• Cell splits exactly into two, making them identical 

Budding  

• Parent produces a small bud, smaller version of itself 

• Eventually detaches and becomes a new individual, identical to parent  

Spore reproduction 

• Produced by division of cells of the parent 

• Individual will produce many of them, each will develop into a new individual 

Vegetative  

• In plants that does not require seed 

• Runners  

• Tubers  

Sexual to asexual  

No other organism to mate with 

Sexual reproduction 

• Involves two parents 

• Offspring will be mixed throughout each generation 

• Join gametes  

• New individuals share traits from both parents 

• Will not be identical to parents 

Gametes 

• Reproductive cells 

• Join with each other to form zygote 

• Female – ovum 

• Male – sperm 

Fertilization  

• male and female gamete join to make a zygote   

• 1N -> 2N 

Zygote 

• Cell created by two gametes joining together 

• first cell of the offspring

Haploid and diploid

haploid

• N 

• one set of chromosomes 

• half 

diploid

• 2N 

• two sets of chromosomes 

Somatic  

Other cells that are not reproductive 

Mitosis 

• Cells dividing 

• 2N -> 2N 

• Non-reproductive - cell division in all multicellular organisms 

• All organisms (ex: skin cells) 

• Reproductive – some unicellular and multicellular organisms 

Meiosis 

• Cell division  

• 2N -> 1N 

• Only sexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction in plants 

• Some with female and male, some with just female, some with just male 

• Some characteristics of both parents 

• Not identical 

• New embryo may not begin to grow 

• Seed protects embryo 

• Embryo produced in a seed 

• Embryo makes new individual  

Pollen  

• Male gamete 

• Found in stamen 

Ovules  

• Female gamete 

• Found in pistil 

Pollination 

• Pollen transferred to another plant 

• Fertilization – male and female gamete fuse 

Natural selection and artificial selection 

natural selection

• Happens within ecosystem 

• No human intervention

artificial selection

• Humans choosing the traits  

Hierarchy (largest to smallest) 

Chromosome -> alleles -> genes -> DNA  

Chromosome  

• Structure found inside the nucleus of a cell 

• Carry DNA instructions for some trait or characteristic allele 

Allele 

• Matching genes together – grouped 

• Determines characteristics 

• One dominant  

• One recessive  

Dominant allele 

Characteristic that will be expressed even when present on only one parental chromosome 

Recessive allele 

Characteristic that will be expressed only when present on both parental chromosomes 

Gene 

• Passed down from parent to offspring 

• One gene -> one trait 

DNA 

• Genetic information in our cells 

• Large molecular compound 

Phenotype and genotype

phenotype

• Visible 

genotype

• Not visible 

• Two alleles 

• Ex: Bb 

Homozygous  

• Both alleles are the same  

• BB = brown eye alleles – homozygous dominant 

• bb = blue eye alleles – homozygous recessive 

Heterozygous  

• Both alleles are different 

• Bb = brown and one blue eye allele 

Co – dominance 

both alleles are expressed the same (no dominant or recessive)

Incomplete dominance 

• Dominant allele isn’t strong enough to mask recessive, so some recessive traits visible 

• Some traits are caused by multiple genes 

Mendelian 

• one allele, one trait 

• Doesn't cover blood type or eye color 

Non – mendelian 

multiple dominance, or multiple allele influence 

Zoo inquiry

• SSP - breeding programs to keep endangered species alive

• pedigrees - keep track of families to prevent inbreeding

• prevent inbreeding - breeding programs and pedigrees

bringing back extinct species

pros

• increase biological diversity

• save diminished ecosystems

• enhance species richness

cons

• unethical

• expensive

• can kill other species

do zoos promote biological diversity

pros

• breeding programs

• pedigrees

• breeding pairs

cons

• unethical

• lose their instincts and forced in captivity for the rest of their lives

• are not in a natural environment

should genetic embryos be implanted in females

pros

• can prevent inherited diseases

cons

• designer babies

• unethical