Biodiversity, Genetics and Ecology Study Guide

• Study notes on biodiversity, genetics, and ecology, natural resources, bacteria and viruses

Biodiversity & Conservation

• Biodiversity includes the variety of life on Earth at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
• Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within a species' population.
• Species diversity refers to the number of different species within an ecosystem.
• Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems within a region or across the world.
• Background extinction is the natural, gradual process of species disappearing over time.
• Mass extinction refers to a sudden, widespread event where many species go extinct.
• Overexploitation involves excessive use of species with economic value, leading to population decline.
• Habitat fragmentation is the process of breaking large ecosystems into smaller, isolated sections.
• Biological magnification is the process where toxins become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
• Endemic species are found only in one specific geographic location.
• Bioremediation uses living organisms to remove pollutants from the environment.
• Sustainable use involves using resources at a rate that allows them to be naturally replenished.

Genetics & DNA Technology

• Genetic engineering involves direct modification of an organism’s DNA for specific purposes.
• Genome refers to the complete set of genetic material (DNA) in an organism.
• Recombinant DNA is artificially created by combining genes from different organisms.
• A plasmid is a small, circular piece of DNA found in bacteria, often used in genetic engineering.
• Restriction enzymes are proteins that cut DNA at specific sequences.
• DNA ligase is an enzyme that joins DNA fragments together.
• Gene cloning is the process of making identical copies of a gene.
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a method used to amplify (copy) DNA.
• Gel electrophoresis is a technique that separates DNA fragments by size using an electric current.
• Transformation is the process where a cell takes in foreign DNA from its surroundings.
• Human Genome Project was a research project to map all human genes and understand their functions.
• Gene therapy is a medical technique that replaces faulty genes with functional ones to treat diseases.

Bacteria & Viruses

• Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled prokaryotes that can be either beneficial or harmful.
• Archaea are prokaryotes that live in extreme environments, distinct from bacteria.
• Binary fission is asexual reproduction in bacteria where a single cell divides into two identical cells.
• The capsule is a protective layer around some bacteria that prevents drying out and aids in attachment.
• Pili are hair-like structures on bacteria that help in attachment and DNA transfer.
• Nucleoid is the area in a bacterial cell where its DNA is located.
• A virus is a non-living particle that needs a host cell to reproduce.
• The capsid is the protein coat surrounding a virus.
• The lytic cycle is a viral replication cycle that quickly destroys the host cell.
• The lysogenic cycle is a viral replication cycle where the virus remains dormant in the host's DNA before becoming active.

Ecology & Natural Resources

• A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replenished naturally like water and forests.
• A nonrenewable resource is one that takes millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced, such as fossil fuels.
• A biodiversity hotspot is an area with high species diversity that is highly endangered.