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Human Evolution
Over Chapters 1-4
50
Science
Undergraduate 1
02/23/2010

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Term
Linnaeus
Definition

Systema Naturae

Binomial nomenclature

Term
Cuvier
Definition
Catastrophism
Term
Lamarck
Definition

Inheritance of acquired traits

Use & disuse

Term
Malthus
Definition
Competition for resources
Term
Lyell
Definition

Deep Time

Uniformitarianism

Term
Darwin
Definition

The Origin of Species

Natural Selection

Decent with modification

Term
Wallace
Definition
Co-discoverer of natural selection
Term
Mendel
Definition

Inheritance (Mendellian genetics)

Independent assortment & segregation

Term
Natural Selection
Definition

Great potential fertility in populations

population sizes remain fairly stable

natural resources are limited

populations exhibit variation

some of this variation is heritable

"survival of the fittest" (reproductive success)

only cause of directed evolutionary change

acts thru cumulative selection & not random

 

Term
Mutation
Definition

Cause of new alleles-> new variations

rare & random (cannot predict where genes will mutate or when)

Term
Forces of Evolution
Definition

Mutation

Migration & gene flow

genetic drift

natural selection

Term
Migration & gene flow
Definition

when migrants (& their alleles) immigrate to & emigrate from populations, gene flow results

Makes disparate populations more similar with respect to their allele frequencies

Term
Genetic Drift
Definition

Random events (accidents) change allele frequencies 

Founder effect

population bottleneck

Term
Founder Effect
Definition
type of genetic drift that occurs when a segment of a population moves to another area (becomes reproductively isolated)
Term
Population bottleneck
Definition
type of genetic drift that occurs when a population is reduced to a small size (by a natural disaster)
Term
Deep Time
Definition
multi million or billion year geologic time
Term
Uniformitatianism & Catastrophism
Definition
in geology, the idea of slow, gradual change vs rapid, catastrophic change
Term
variation
Definition
differences among members of the same species
Term
allele
Definition
any of several forms of a gene, usually arising through mutation, that are responsible for heredity variation of a trait (hair color)
Term
recombination
Definition
the formation of new combinations of genes
Term
[reproductive] population
Definition
a group of organisms capable of successful reproduction
Term
selective pressures
Definition
forces in the environment that influence reproductive success in individuals (natural disasters, food supply, disease) 
Term
biological species
Definition
major subdivision of a genus, regarded as the basic category of biological classification, composed of related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species.
Term
reproductive success & failure
Definition
the genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation's gene pool relative to the average for the population, usually measured by the number of offspring or close kin that survive to reproductive age.
Term
evolution
Definition
change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, & genetic drift
Term
nucleus
Definition

large organelle found in most cells

houses the cell's DNA

Term
cytoplasm
Definition

the cell substance found inside the cell, but outside of the nucleus

where most organelles are found, including ribosomes

Term
chromatin
Definition
uncoiled form of DNA
Term
chromosome
Definition
a single, large macromolecule of DNA formed when chromatin condenses
Term
gene
Definition
the basic physical unit of heredity; a linear sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when translated into protein, leads to the expression of heredity character
Term
DNA (bases pairs)
Definition
Adenine-Thymine, Guanine-Cytosine
Term
RNA (base pairs)
Definition
Adenine-Uracil, Guanine-Cytosine
Term
template strand
Definition
the specific strand that is being transcribed when DNA "unzips" during transcription
Term
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Definition
like DNA, but is single stranded, contains a different sugar molecule, & uses Uracil rather than Thymine
Term
mRNA
Definition
Messenger RNA; created during transcription & used as a messenger, carrying the transcribed DNA code from inside the nucleus to the outer cytoplasm
Term
tRNA
Definition
Transfer RNA; small RNA molecule that matches up amino acids to specific sequences found on the mRNA strand during translation (translates the mRNA code into amino acid chains)
Term
anticodon
Definition
a three base code found on tRNA that recognizes & pairs with a corresponding codon on mRNA
Term
ribosome
Definition
organelle(s) in the cytoplasm that is the site of translation; aids in translation
Term
amino acids
Definition
the building blocks of proteins
Term
protein synthesis
Definition
process of creating proteins; consists of transcription & translation
Term
protein
Definition
the structure & the function of all living things; the building blocks of life
Term
transcription factor
Definition
certain proteins that bind to DNA & play a role in the regulation of gene expression by promoting or prohibiting the transcription of genes in specific cells
Term
codon
Definition
a three base code found on mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid (Guanin-Adenin-Cytosine (GAC)->Asp)
Term
start codon
Definition
the specific sequence of AUG, which signals the starting point of translation & the attachment of the 1st amino acid, methionine (Met)
Term
STOP codon
Definition
the specific sequence of either UAA, UAG, or UGA, which signals translation to stop & detach the finished protein
Term
Deixyrubonucleic Acid (DNA) Structure
Definition

double stranded & double helix

sugar & phosphate backbone

Adenine & Thymine

Guanine & Cytosine

Hydrogen bond- weak, chemical bond that holds base pairs together

Term
DNA's functions
Definition

1) contains the genetic insturctions used in the development & functioning of all known living organisms

2) often compared to a set of blueprints, since it contains the instructions needed to construct other components of cells, such as proteins & RNA molecules

Term
DNA's location
Definition
Most of the time, DNA is found within the nucleus of the cell
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