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59 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Variation |
Differences in characteristics of organisms caused by genetic or environmental factors. |
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Biological Diversity |
The number and variety of organisms in an area |
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Species |
A group of organisms that share similar genetic and physical characteristics; generally these organisms can interbreed and produce fertile offspring |
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Speciation |
The evolution of different species from a single ancestor |
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Structural Adaptation |
An inherited physical characteristics that helps an organism survive in its environment |
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Behavioral Adaptation |
An inherited characteristic behaviour that helps an organism survive in its environment |
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Diversity Index |
A measure of the biological diversity in an area, calculated by dividing the number of runs in a walkthrough of an area by the total number of specimens |
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Environment |
The area or conditions in which an organism lives; sometimes used to refer exclusively to natural areas on Earth |
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Competition |
The struggle among individual organisms for access to a limited resource, such as food or territory |
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Broad Niche |
The roles or characteristic activities filled by a generalist organism |
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Generalist |
An organism with generalized requirements and adaptations that allow it to survive in variable conditions and depend on a variety of food sources; generalists tend to have broad niches |
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Specialist |
A type of organism that is adapted to very specific environments; having a narrow niche |
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Narrow Niche |
A highly specialized role or characteristic activity undertaken by an organism in the ecosystem |
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Specialization |
Adaptations for surviving in very specific environments |
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Symbiotic |
An interaction between organisms of different species living in close proximity of each other in a relationship that lasts over time |
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Heritable |
A genetic characteristic; that is, one that can be passed on from parent to offspring |
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Reproductive Strategy |
A method that an organism uses to reproduce |
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Sexual Reproduction |
Reproductive process involving two sexes or mating types, and resulting in offspring with a combination of genes from both parents |
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Asexual Reproduction |
The formation of a new individual from a single organism |
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Binary Fission |
The splitting of a single-celled organism into two new organisms approximately equal in size; amoebae and many bacteria reproduce asexually through this proccess |
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Spore |
A single celled reproductive structure from which an individual offspring develops; plants, algae, fungi, and some protozoa produce spores |
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Zoospore |
A flagellated asexual spore; the algae "Chlamydomonas" reproduces by zoospores |
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Meristem |
An area of cell division of unspecialized cells in the tips of roots and shoots that produces new growth in plants |
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Clone |
An identical copy of a molecule, gene, cell, or entire organism |
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Budding |
An asexual reproduction process in which a bud forms on an organism, grows, and eventually breaks away to become a new organism independent of the parent |
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Zygospore |
A single-celled reproductive structure formed in sexual reproduction by some fungi; they contain genetic information from two different mating types, - and + |
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Bacterial Conjugation |
The direct transfer of genetic material (DNA) from one bacterial cell to another |
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Zygote |
The new cell formed by the process of fertilization |
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Pistil |
The seed-producing, or female part of a flower |
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Stamen |
The part of a flower that contains pollen |
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Ovule |
The plant part that develops into a seed |
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Pollen Tube |
In a plant, a tube that grows from a pollen grain toward the ovule |
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Embryo |
A multicellular organisms during early development |
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Cotyledon |
A seed-leaf; a structure in a seed that nourishes the plant embryo |
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Self-Pollination |
Pollination of an ovule in a flower with pollen from the same flower |
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Cross-Pollination |
Pollination of an ovule in a flower with pollen from a different individual plant |
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Genetics |
The study of genes or heritable traits |
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Continuous Variation |
In genetics, traits that show a range of possibilities |
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Discrete Variation |
In genetics, inherited traits that have a limited number of variations, such as the ability or inability to roll one's tounge |
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Dominant Trait |
An inherited trait that shows up in the offspring |
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Recessive Trait |
An inherited trait that shows up in the offspring only if both parents passed on the genes for the trait; when mixed with genes for a dominant trait, a this trait does not show up in the offspring |
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Mutation |
A change in the genetic information, or DNA, of an organism |
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Mutagen |
An agent that can cause changes in the genetic information of an organism |
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DNA |
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid) a molecule that stores genetic information for heitable traits and directs the structure and functions of cells |
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Chromosome |
In a cell, tyghtly packed strands of DNA visible under a light microscope during cell division |
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Gene |
A section of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein and function |
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Somatic Cells |
Body cells, not the egg or sperm (reproductive cells) |
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Genetic Engineering |
The artificial introduction of genes from one organism into the genetic material of another |
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Biotechnology |
Using or modifying living organisms to make marketable products; sometime involves genetic engineering |
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Transgenic |
An organism produced by moving DNA from one organism to another to create a new genetic combination |
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Aquaculture |
Fish farming |
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Domestic Animal |
An animal that is no longer wild, but has been bred or tamed by humans to perform various functions |
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Artificial Selection |
Technique in which individual plants or animals with desirable traits are bred together to develop plants or animals with specific traits; also called selective breeding |
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Natural Selection |
A naturally occuring process in which only those organisms with the best traits for survival in an environment survive to reproduce; over time this process results in changes in the genetic characteristics of a species |
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Extirpation |
The extinction of a species from a specific geographical area |
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Bioindicator species |
Species that help indicate environmental change |
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Seed Bank |
A collection of genetically diverse seeds |
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Global Treaties |
International agreements between many nations worldwide |
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Protected Areas |
Natural areas protected by law from certain kinds of human activities; includes preserves, refuges, and provincial and national parks |