A3 - Biodiversity

A3.1 - Biodiversity

Species

A set of individuals that share similar traits and can mate and produce fertile offspring

Classification

Grouping of objects or information based on similarities and differences

Binomial Nomenclature

Two-Part naming system; must be in Latin

First word of the Binomial Nomenclature

Identifies genus (ex. Felis domesticus, house cat)

Genus (pl. Genera)

Consists of group of similar species

Second Word of the Binomial Nomenclature

Identifies species specific epithet (ex. Felis domesticus, house cat)

Epithet

Describes a specific characteristic of an organism

Format of Binomial Nomenclature [3]

1. Must be in Latin (dead language → cannot change)

2. Should be italicized in print or underlined in writing

3. First letter of the Genus name is capitalised; all other letters, including the first letter of the epithet, are in lowercase (Genus epithet)

Ex. The banana, Musa paradisiaca, or
The banana, Musa paradisiaca

Variation

Differences between individuals (within a species), caused by different genetic information

(human) Chromosomes

A structure found inside the nucleus of a cell made up of DNA, which stores genetic information

Karyotype

An individual’s full set of chromosomes. It can be used to identify diseases, such as Down Syndrome

Karyotyping

arrangement of chromosomes from:

• largest to smallest,

• the position of the centromere, and

• the banding pattern and satellite endings

Types of Chromosomes [2]

1. Autosomes - first 22 pairs (44)

2. Sex Chromosomes - 23rd pair (2)

46 chromosomes total; 23 pairs

Number of Chromosomes?

Each species has the same number of chromosomes (ex. all humans should have 46 chromosomes total; mosquitoes have 6, and garden peas have 14)