Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Earth Forms
08/27/2012- 09/03/2012
57
Biology
Undergraduate 1
09/11/2012

Additional Biology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Macroevolution
Definition
the broad pattern of evolution above the species level
Term
Protocells
Definition
droplets with membranes that maintained an internal chemistry different from that of their surroundings
Term
Reducing
Definition
electron adding
Term
Oxidizing
Definition
electron removing
Term
Carbonaceous Chondrites
Definition
rocks that are 1-2% carbon compounds
Term
Vesicles
Definition
fluid-filled compartments bounded by a membrane-like structure
Term
Montmorillonite
Definition
a soft mineral clay produced by the weathering of volcanic ash
Term
Ribozymes
Definition
an RNA molecule that functions as an enzyme, such as an intron that catalyzes its own removal during RNA splicing
Term
Relative Fitness
Definition
the contribution an inndividual makes to the gene pool of the next generation relative to the contributions of other individuals; how your contribution compares to your neighbor's
Term
Directional Selection
Definition
natural selections in which individuals at one one end of the phenotypic range survive or reproduce more successfully than others; Migration
Term
Disruptive Selection
Definition
natural selection in which individuals on both extremes of a phenotypic range survive and reproduce more successfully than the inbetweeners; Hot 'n' Cold
Term
Stabilizing Selection
Definition
natural selection in which the inbetweeners survive; Middle Child
Term
Sexual Selection
Definition
when individuals with certain characteristics get it on more than others
Term
Sexual Dimorphism
Definition
difference between secondary sex characteristics of males and females (e.g. size, color, ornamentation, and behavior)
Term
Intrasexual Dimorphism
Definition
selection within the same sex
Term
Neutral Variation
Definition
genetic vaiation that does not provide a selective advantage/ disadvantage
Term
Diploid Cell
Definition
a cell containing 2 sets of chromosomes (2n), one set inherited from each parent
Term
Balancing Selection
Definition
when natural selection maintains two or more forms in a population
Term
Heterozygote Advantage
Definition
greater reproductive success of heterozygous individuals compared with homozygotes; tends to preserve variation in a gene pool; defined in terms of genotype, not phenotype
Term
Frequency-dependent Selection
Definition
natural selection in which the fitness of a phenotype depends on how common the phenotype is in a population
Term
Interspecific Interactions
Definition
a relationship between individuals of two or more species in a community; e.g. competition, predations, herbivory, symbiosis, and facilitation
Term
Ecological Niche
Definition
sum of biotic and abiotic resources used by a species; address: habitat :: niche: profession
Term
Resource Partitioning
Definition
the differentiation of niches that enables similar species coexist in a community
Term
Fundamental Niche
Definition
potential niche
Term
Realized Niche
Definition
portion of fundamental niche actually used
Term
Metabolism
Definition
the totality of an organism's chemical reactions, consisting of catabolic and anabolic pathways, which manage the materisal and energy resources of the organism; transforms matter to energy
Term
Metabolic Pathway
Definition
a series of chemical reactions that either build a complex molecule (anabolic pathway) or breaks down a complex molecule to simpler molecules (catabolic pathway)
Term
Catabolic Pathways
Definition
a metabolic pathway that releases energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler molecules; DOWNHILL
Term
Anabolic Pathways
Definition
a metabolic pathway that consumes energy to synthesize a complex molecule from simpler molecules; UPHILL
Term
Bioenergetics
Definition
study of how energy flows through organisms
Term
Energy
Definition
the capacity to cause change, especially to do work (moving matter against an opposing force)
Term
Kinetic Energy
Definition
the energy associated with the relative motion of objects. Moving matter can perform work by imparting motion to other matter
Term
Potential Energy
Definition
the energy that matter possesses as a result of its location or spatial arrangement (structure)
Term
Heat
Definition
the total amount of kinetic energy due to the random motion of atoms or molecules in a body of matter; also known as Thermal Energy
Term
Chemical Energy
Definition
energy available in molecules for release in a chemical reaction; a form of potential energy; made possible because arrangements of energy from electrons
Term
Thermodynamics
Definition
the study of energy transformations that occur in a collection of matter
Term
Entropy
Definition
the measure of disorder or randomness
Term
Spontaneous Process
Definition

process occurs without input; not quick, "energetically favorable".


Water can go from Point A to Point B, but some energy is needed to go from Point B to Point A

 

Term
Free Energy
Definition

the portion of a system's energy that can preform work when temperature and pressure are uniform throughout the system


ΔG= ΔH- TΔS

ΔG  change in free energy

ΔH  changes in enthalpy

T    absolute temperature in Kelvin

ΔS  changes in entropy

Term
ΔG= GFinal - GInitial
Definition
negative ΔG means spontaneous reaction; "we can think of free energy as a measure of a system's instability"
Term
Exergonic Reaction
Definition
a spontaneous chemical reaction in which there is a net release of free energy
Term
Endergonic Reaction
Definition
a non-spontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings; a living cell never reaches equilibrium; orgamisms are open systems
Term
Gravitational Motion
Definition
objects move spontaneously from high to low altitudes (e.g. diver on a platform)
Term
Diffusion
Definition
objects move from high to low concentrations (e.g. dye in water)
Term
Chemical Reaction
Definition
in a cell, a glucose molecule is broken down into simpler molecules
Term
Geologlic Record
Definition
the division of Earth's history into thime periods grouped into 3 eons
Term
Archaen eon
Definition
orgiing of Earth; oldest know rocks; oldest fossils of cells (prokaryotes) appears
Term
Proterzoic eon
Definition
oldest fossils of eukaryotic cells appear; diverse algae and soft-bodied invertebrae animals appear
Term
Phanerozoic eon
Definition
Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic
Term
Stromatolite
Definition
layered rock that results from the activities of prokaryotes that bind thin flims of sediment together
Term
Endosymbiont Theory
Definition
the theory that mitochondria and pastids, including chloroplasts, originated as prokaryotic cells engulfed by an ancetral eukaryotic cell. The engulfed cell and its host cell then evolved into a single organism
Term
Serial Endosymbiosis
Definition
a hypothesis for the origin of eukaryotes consisting of a sequence of endosymbiotic events in which mitochondria, chlorotpplasts, etc. were derived from small prokaryotes that had by larger cells
Term
The Cambrian Explosion
Definition
a sudden explosion when many present-day phyla first appeared, including the first hard-bodied animals
Term
Plate Tectonics
Definition
the theory that the continents are part of great plates of Earth's crust that float on the hot, underlying portion of the mantle. Movements in the mantle cause the continents to move slowly over time
Term
Continental Drift
Definition
the idea that continents move slowly over a period of time; consequences include: alterations in habitats (physical environment), climate, allopatric speciation, and geographic distribution
Term
Mass Extinctions
Definition
elimination of large large number of species throughout Earth, the result of global environmental changes
Term
Adaptive Radiations
Definition
period of evolutionary change in which groups of organisms from many new species whose adaptations allow them to fill different ecological roles in their communities
Supporting users have an ad free experience!