Biology Flashcards

Front 1

Trait

Back 1

Characteristic

Front 2

Allele

Back 2

Alternate form of the same gene for a trait

Front 3

Homozygous

Back 3

Having 2 identical alleles

Front 4

Heterozygous

Back 4

Having 2 different alleles

Front 5

Phenotype

Back 5

An organism's physical characteristics

Front 6

Genotype

Back 6

The genetic make-up of an organism

Front 7

Hybrid

Back 7

Two different genes

Front 8

Hereditary

Back 8

Passed from parents to offspring

Front 9

Gene

Back 9

Chromosome Theory

Front 10

Karyotype

Back 10

An ordered picture of a person's chromosomes

Front 11

Sex Chromosomes

Back 11

The two (sometimes unmatched) chromosomes that determine the gender of an individual.

Front 12

Autosomes

Back 12

All the chromosomes except the sex chromosomes

Front 13

Mutation

Back 13

A sudden change in the structure or amount of genetic material (DNA) that an organism carries

Front 14

Aminocentesis

Back 14

A sample of the amniotic fluid of a pregnant woman is taken is taken & analyzed for the fetus chromosome content.

Front 15

Mutagenic Agents

Back 15

Random (rare)

Environmental factors (a.k.a mutagenic agents)

Front 16

DNA

Back 16

Double helix (spiral staircase) where each strand is complementary to the other.

Front 17

Adenine

Back 17

Purine

Front 18

Thymine

Back 18

Pyrimidines

Front 19

Guanine

Back 19

Purines

Front 20

Cytosine

Back 20

Pyrimidines

Front 21

DNA Replication

Back 21

1. Hydrogen bond break apart at one end ("unzipping")

2. As bases become exposed, complimentary nucleotides attach themselves to each strand.

Front 22

RNA

Back 22

(ribonucleic acid) Helps DNA with protein synthesis.

Front 23

Restrictive Enzyme

Back 23

Are proteins that cut the DNA molecule at specific nucleotide.

Front 24

Cloning

Back 24

Producing a genetically identical individual.

Front 25

Gel electrophoresis

Back 25

Protein gets are electrically charged

. DNA fragments move through the gel

. Patterns look like bar codes each individual has a has a unique pattern

.Used to identify people (Criminal investigations & paternity)

Front 26

Evolution

Back 26

Change in a kind or organisms over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

Front 27

Relative Dating

Back 27

Estimates the order that geologic events occuring by determining where the fossil lays in the geologic record.

Front 28

Radioactive Dating

Back 28

Determines how long ago an event occured.

Front 29

Comparative Anatomy

Back 29

The study of similarities/ differences in the structure of organisms.

Front 30

Homologous Structures

Back 30

Parts of different organisms that have similar structures, but may have different functions.

Front 31

Analogous Structures

Back 31

Parts of different organisms that have a similar external look and function but have different internal structures.

Front 32

Vestigial Structures

Back 32

Remnants of "left-over" structures in modern organisms that were once functional in an ancestor.

Front 33

Comparative Embryology

Back 33

Studying the embryonic development of related species to show similarities and differences.

Front 34

Comparative Biochemistry

Back 34

The more closely related the species the more similar their DNA sequences and proteins will be.

Front 35

Theory of Use and Disuse

Back 35

When an organism uses a body structure often, it becomes stronger and more developed. When an organism does not use a body structure, it becomes weaker and less developed.

Front 36

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

Back 36

Characteristics that an organism developed as a result of use and disuse could be passed on to their offspring.

Front 37

Adaptations

Back 37

Some variations make some individuals better suited for survival (Get food, find mate, escape enemies). Also the favorable adaptations increase the likelihood of reproduction.

Front 38

Natural Selection

Back 38

The environment determines the parents with optimal traits. They reproduce in large numbers, passing these traits on to most of their offsprings.

Front 39

Speciation

Back 39

Over many generations favorable adaptations increase in frequency. Unfavorable ones disappear and eventually a new species result.

Front 40

Genetic Recombination

Back 40

Results from sexual reproduction and forms new allele combinations (new phenotypes).

Front 41

Immigration

Back 41

Individuals migrate in & out of a population. When they come and go, their genes come and go with them.

Front 42

Punctuated Equilibrium

Back 42

Species remains constant for periods of time and then suddenly changes by the appearance of a new species.

Front 43

Geographic Isolation

Back 43

When a population is divided by a natural barrier.

Front 44

Reproductive Isolation

Back 44

Inability for 2 isolated populations to interbreed.

Front 45

Adaptive Radiation

Back 45

One species evolves into more than one other species.

Front 46

Convergent Evolution

Back 46

Unrelated species resemble one another due to natural selection and development of analogous structures.

Front 47

Ecology

Back 47

The study of the interactions among organisms and their environment.

Front 48

Biotic

Back 48

Living factors

Front 49

Abiotic

Back 49

Non-living factors

Front 50

Autotroph

Back 50

Make their own food (Usually through photosynthesis)

Front 51

Heterotroph

Back 51

Organisms that obtain their food from the environment.

Front 52

Carnivore

Back 52

Animals that feed only on plants

Front 53

Carnivore

Back 53

Animals that feed on other animals

Front 54

Predator

Back 54

Feed on prey they kill

Front 55

Scavenger

Back 55

Feed on dead animals they find

Front 56

Omnivore

Back 56

Animal that feeds on both plants and animals

Front 57

Decomposer (Saprobe)

Back 57

Organisms that feed on dead plants & animals

Front 58

Symbiotic Relationships

Back 58

A relationship between two closely associated organisms in which at least one benefits

Front 59

Mutualism

Back 59

Both organisms benefit

Front 60

Parasitism

Back 60

One organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Front 61

Commensalism

Back 61

One organism benefits while the other is not affected.