Shared Flashcard Set

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ISB 200 Final
History of Life
39
Other
Undergraduate 2
12/13/2009

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Mendel
Definition
An Austrian monk who worked out laws of genetic inheritance in the 1800s
Term
Gene
Definition
Basic unit of genetic inheritance, contains the genetic code for an inheritable trait
Term
Chromosome
Definition
Structures in the cell nucleus that consist of strands of the molecule DNA
Term
Evolutionary Synthesis
Definition
Combining Darwin’s theory (Natural Selection) with an understanding
        of how genetic inheritance works
Term
Population
Definition
A group of naturally interbreeding individuals belonging to the same species
Term
Double Helix
Definition
The 3D structure of the DNA molecule
Term
Adenine and Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine
Definition
The always-paired bases found in DNA
Term
Amino Acid
Definition
Building block of proteins, coded for by three pairs of bases
Term
Genetic Code
Definition
The sequence in which bases are paired in DNA
Term
Human Genome Project
Definition
Determining the complete genome of our species
Term
Taxonomy
Definition
Classifying life by naming organisms, and grouping together related organisms
Term
Phylogeny
Definition
Determining biological relationships
Term
Cladogram
Definition
Branching diagram depicting phylogenetic relationships
Term
Endemic
Definition
Unique, found only in one particular place
Term
Kea
Definition
Mountain parrot endemic to New Zealand
Term
Kiwi
Definition
Flightless bird endemic to NZ
Term
Moa
Definition
Giant flightless bird of NZ, now extinct
Term
Tuatara
Definition
Lizard-like reptile of NZ, only surviving member of its group
Term
Introduced
Definition
Refers to non-native species artificially brought into an area, may be very
         damaging
Term
Claspers
Definition
Male reproductive structures unique to sharks
Term
Rectal Gland
Definition
Small gland in sharks used to remove excess salt from their bodies
Term
Neoselachians
Definition
The ‘New Sharks’ – refers to living sharks & rays and their fossil relatives
Term
Apex Predator
Definition
Top of the food chain predator, e.g. the Great White Shark
Term
Finning
Definition
Very destructive practice where sharks are killed only for their fins, to make soup
Term
Megalodon
Definition
Giant extinct fossil relative of the Great White Shark
Term
Meiofana
Definition
The small forms of life that live in-between sand grains on the beach
Term
Biodiversity
Definition
The sum total of living things
Term
Hotspot
Definition
A geographic area that has a high percentage of endemic species
Term
Sustainable
Definition
A method of harvesting that ensures the resource is not dangerously depleted
Term
Ecotourism
Definition
Providing economic incentives for conserving biodiversity by using it as the basis
          for tourism
Term
Double-clutching
Definition
Having birds lay two clutches of eggs, part of the strategy for saving the
          California Condor
Term
Big Bang
Definition
The explosion at the beginning of our universe that started the universe expanding
Term
Panspermia (or Exogenesis)
Definition
The idea that life on Earth was ‘seeded’ from outer space
Term
Occam's Razor
Definition
The philosophical idea that the simplest explanation is most likely to be correct
Term
Fibonocci Square
Definition
A mathematical progression where each number is the sum of the two
          prior numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.
Term
Golden Section
Definition
A mathematical progression where each number is the sum of the two
          prior numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.
Term
HOX (Homeobox) Genes
Definition
Genes that control development of many parts of the body and the
          basic body plan
Term
Great White Shark
Definition
Carchardon carcharias
Term
Domain
Definition
The area or structures controlled by a HOX gene – e.g., the development of fingers is controlled in one domain
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