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GCSE AQA Biology 1b
Evolution and Environment
65
Science
Not Applicable
06/03/2006

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Cards

Term
Genetic information is passed from parents to their young in
Definition
sex cells
Term
Characteristics such as fur colour in young rabbits is controlled by
Definition
genes
Term
The structures which carry information for a large number of inherited characteristics are called
Definition
chromosomes
Term
The part of the cell which contains these structures is calle the
Definition
nucleus
Term
The main substance that produces acid rain is
Definition
sulfur dioxide
Term
The main substance given off by cars is
Definition
carbon dioxide
Term
The substance produced mainly by cattle and rice fields is
Definition
methane
Term
The substance that may pollute both land and water is
Definition
fertiliser
Term
The white coat of an Arctic hare acts as
Definition
camouflage
Term
The large ears of an African elephant give it an
Definition
increased surface area
Term
The musk ox is insulated by
Definition
thick fur
Term
The walrus is insulated by
Definition
a large amount of body fat
Term
Plants can be produced cheaply by doing what to an older plant?
Definition
Taking cuttings.
Term
What sort of computer application would be best for storing results from a survey of different plant species?
Definition
A database
Term
Deforestation increases what substance in the air?
Definition
Carbon dioxide
Term
Some gases absorb what radiated from the Earth?
Definition
Energy
Term
The theory of evolution states that all living things alive today have evolved from
Definition
simple life forms
Term
Scientists are uncertain how life began on Earth because
Definition
the evidence has been destroyed.
Term
The most likely reason for the extinction of all the dinosaurs is that ...
Definition
conditions on Earth changed
Term
New forms of genes arise by ...
Definition
mutation
Term
Acid rain
Definition
Acid rain is made when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from pollution or volcanoes dissolve in falling rain.
Term
Adaptation
Definition
A feature of an organism that fits it to its environment

e.g. the zebra's stripes help camouflage it in the African savannah

Term
Clones
Definition
Two living things are clones if they have exactly the same genes.
Term
Two living things are clones if they have exactly the same ...
Definition
genes
Term
What is deforestation?
Definition
The loss of the tree cover in an area, usually through logging, but can also occur after a fire.
Term
What is DNA?
Definition
Deoxyribonucleic Acid. The molecule that carries genetic information.
Term
What is evolution?
Definition
The gradual change in living organisms over millions of years caused by random mutations and natural selection.
Term
What is extinction?
Definition
When all the members of a species have died.
Term
What are fossils?
Definition
Preserved evidence of a dead animal or plant

Can be body parts or evidence like tracks, burrows, nests or teeth marks.

Term
What are genes?
Definition
The length of DNA that codes for a particular characteristic.
Term
What is meant by intensive farming?
Definition
Farming that uses fertilisers and and high energy inputs to get the maximum production of food from an area of land
Term
What is meant by sustainability?
Definition
Development that does not make life more difficult for the generations that come after us.
Term
What three things do all living things compete for?
Definition
food, territory and mates
Term
Plants that live in arid (dry) places such as deserts often have what instead of leaves?
Definition
Thorns or spines.
Term
How do thorns (spines) help plants survive in desert (arid) conditions?
Definition
They reduce the amount of water plants lose as well as stopping animals from eating them.
Term
Some plants as well as animals, protect themselves from being eaten by making ...
Definition
poisonous chemicals

These plants and insects are usually brightly coloured.

Term
What two colours are often used in nature as a warning?
Definition
Black and yellow

e.g. wasps

Term
Why do harmless hoverflies look like dangerous wasps?
Definition
Other animals will avoid them in case they get stung

This is an example of mimicry

Term
What are the two forms of sexual reproduction?
Definition
Sexual and asexual
Term
What is the point of reproducing?
Definition
To pass genes on to the next generation
Term
What are passed on from one generation to another during reproduction?
Definition
genes
Term
What is another name for sex cells?
Definition
gametes
Term
What are gametes?
Definition
Sex cells
Term
What is fertilisation?
Definition
When an egg and sperm fuse (join) together
Term
What do sperm have to help it reach the egg?
Definition
A tail.
Term
What is used to speed up the growth of new roots on cuttings?
Definition
hormone rooting powder
Term
What part of a plant can you take cuttings from?
Definition
stems, leaves and roots
Term
What is a zygote?
Definition
A newly fertilised egg
Term
What is a newly fertilised egg called?
Definition
A zygote.
Term
Moving genes from one living organism to another is called ....
Definition
genetic engineering
Term
GM plants are controversial. What does GMN stand for?
Definition
Genetically Modified
Term
How long has there been life on Earth?
Definition
About 3,500 million years

or 3.5 billion years

Term
Plants often compete with each other for ...
Definition
light and for water and nutrients from the soil.
Term
Modern cloning techniques include ...
Definition
tissue culture
embryo transplants
fusion cell and adult cell cloning
Term
What is tissue culture?
Definition
Using small groups of cells
Term
What are embryo transplants?
Definition
Splitting apart cells from a developing animal embryo before they become specialised, then transplanting the identical embryos into host (surrogate) mothers.
Term
Extinction may be caused by
Definition
changes to the environment
new predators
new diseases
new competitors
Term
Rapid growth of the human population and an increase in the standard of living mean that ...
Definition
raw materials, including non-renewable resources, are being used up faster
More waste is produced
Greater pollution problems
Term
Humans reduce the amount of land available for other animals and plants by ...
Definition
building, quarrying, farming and dumping waste
Term
Waste may pollute water with ...
Definition
sewage, fertilisers or toxic chemicals
Term
Waste may pollute air with ...
Definition
smoke and gases such as sulfur dioxide which makes acid rain
Term
Waste may pollute land with ...
Definition
toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, which may be washed from land into water
Term
What sort of living organisms can be used as air pollution indicators?
Definition
Lichens
Term
What sort of organisms can be used as water pollution indicators?
Definition
invertebrate animals
Term
An increase in the Earth's temperature of only a few degrees (as a result of the 'greenhouse effect') could do what?
Definition
1. cause quite big changes in the Earth's climate

2. cause a rise in sea level resulting in floods

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