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Questions and Answers
Which human activity is NOT mentioned as having a negative impact on species diversity?
Which human activity is NOT mentioned as having a negative impact on species diversity?
What is the main consequence of two species competing for the same resources?
What is the main consequence of two species competing for the same resources?
What role does meiosis play in evolution and natural selection?
What role does meiosis play in evolution and natural selection?
How does selection pressure influence natural selection?
How does selection pressure influence natural selection?
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What is a consequence of reproductive isolation?
What is a consequence of reproductive isolation?
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Which statement accurately defines natural selection?
Which statement accurately defines natural selection?
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What effect does over-fishing have on fish species?
What effect does over-fishing have on fish species?
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How does climate change negatively impact ecosystems?
How does climate change negatively impact ecosystems?
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What occurs when sparrows from the island evolve in response to new environmental conditions?
What occurs when sparrows from the island evolve in response to new environmental conditions?
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What represents the allele frequencies in the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
What represents the allele frequencies in the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
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Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between genetic diversity and adaptation to changing environments?
Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between genetic diversity and adaptation to changing environments?
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What happens if a population of breeding adults falls below the level of 50?
What happens if a population of breeding adults falls below the level of 50?
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How is the heterozygosity index useful in measuring genetic diversity?
How is the heterozygosity index useful in measuring genetic diversity?
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According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, what does the term $q^2$ represent?
According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, what does the term $q^2$ represent?
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Why are newer species considered to be less genetically diverse than older species?
Why are newer species considered to be less genetically diverse than older species?
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What is the significance of calculating the square root of $q^2$ in the Hardy-Weinberg analysis?
What is the significance of calculating the square root of $q^2$ in the Hardy-Weinberg analysis?
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What does the heterozygosity index (H) measure in a population?
What does the heterozygosity index (H) measure in a population?
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What happens to genetic diversity in a population over time?
What happens to genetic diversity in a population over time?
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How is the classification of organisms primarily determined?
How is the classification of organisms primarily determined?
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What defines a hierarchical classification system?
What defines a hierarchical classification system?
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What is the purpose of the peer review process?
What is the purpose of the peer review process?
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Which of the following concepts forms the basis of taxonomic classification?
Which of the following concepts forms the basis of taxonomic classification?
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What is a key characteristic of phylogenetic classification?
What is a key characteristic of phylogenetic classification?
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Which structure is specific to plant cells but not found in animal cells?
Which structure is specific to plant cells but not found in animal cells?
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What observation led William Withering to investigate foxglove as a treatment for dropsy?
What observation led William Withering to investigate foxglove as a treatment for dropsy?
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Why is a double-blind trial considered more valid than a standard trial?
Why is a double-blind trial considered more valid than a standard trial?
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What is the significance of using a placebo in clinical trials?
What is the significance of using a placebo in clinical trials?
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What key aspect did Withering focus on when determining the effective dose of foxglove?
What key aspect did Withering focus on when determining the effective dose of foxglove?
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What advantage do plant-based products have over oil-based fuels?
What advantage do plant-based products have over oil-based fuels?
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What is the placebo effect?
What is the placebo effect?
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What is the role of specific heat capacity in water functions in ecosystems?
What is the role of specific heat capacity in water functions in ecosystems?
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What was a crucial aspect of Withering's approach to herbal remedies?
What was a crucial aspect of Withering's approach to herbal remedies?
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What is one challenge posed by the cultivation of biofuel crops?
What is one challenge posed by the cultivation of biofuel crops?
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Which statement accurately describes a problem associated with using plant-based products instead of oil-based plastics?
Which statement accurately describes a problem associated with using plant-based products instead of oil-based plastics?
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What is the main function of the chloroplast in plant cells?
What is the main function of the chloroplast in plant cells?
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What role do studbooks play in zoo conservation efforts?
What role do studbooks play in zoo conservation efforts?
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What is a significant problem faced by reintroduction programs for animals?
What is a significant problem faced by reintroduction programs for animals?
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Which of the following structures is primarily involved in cell-to-cell communication in plant cells?
Which of the following structures is primarily involved in cell-to-cell communication in plant cells?
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What is the role of lignin within plant cell walls?
What is the role of lignin within plant cell walls?
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Which issue can arise from having a small gene pool in captive zoo populations?
Which issue can arise from having a small gene pool in captive zoo populations?
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How do alpha-glucose and beta-glucose differ in their structures?
How do alpha-glucose and beta-glucose differ in their structures?
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What is one of the main objectives of the Millennium Seed Bank?
What is one of the main objectives of the Millennium Seed Bank?
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Why might reintroduced animals struggle in the wild?
Why might reintroduced animals struggle in the wild?
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Which structure contains starch and is found in the cytoplasm of plant cells?
Which structure contains starch and is found in the cytoplasm of plant cells?
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What type of risks do small captive populations face due to inbreeding?
What type of risks do small captive populations face due to inbreeding?
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What significant change occurs to the tonoplast during the lignification process?
What significant change occurs to the tonoplast during the lignification process?
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What is the primary characteristic of the middle lamella in plant cells?
What is the primary characteristic of the middle lamella in plant cells?
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Which of the following statements about water is NOT true regarding its importance to plants?
Which of the following statements about water is NOT true regarding its importance to plants?
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Study Notes
Human Activities and Species Diversity
- Human activities negatively impact species diversity.
- Climate change, deforestation, and overfishing are examples.
Climate Change
- Rising temperatures due to lifestyles affect ecosystems.
- One example of impact is the melting of Arctic ice.
Deforestation
- Increasing agricultural land or harvesting timber negatively impacts forest-dwelling species.
Overfishing
- Unsustainable fishing practices cause declines in fish populations.
Niche
- Niche is an organism's role in its environment.
- It includes the organism's habitat and its position within the food chain.
- Two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist stably.
- Members of a species within a niche compete intensely with each other.
- Interspecies competition occurs where niches overlap.
Natural Selection, Evolution, and Selection Pressure
- Natural selection is the mechanism that favors adaptation to changing environments in organisms.
- Evolution is a change in allele frequency over time in a population.
- Selection pressure is the force that drives natural selection.
- Natural selection mechanisms enable evolution.
Meiosis and Genetic Variation
- Meiosis is essential for natural selection and evolution.
- It generates genetic variation in gametes.
- Crossing over and independent assortment during meiosis increase variation.
Reproductive Isolation and Speciation
- Reproductive isolation can lead to changes in allele frequencies.
- This can result in the formation of a new species.
- Geographical separation, e.g., a flock of sparrows colonizing a new island, can cause the development of a new species.
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
- The Hardy-Weinberg equation calculates allele and genotype frequencies.
- The equation is p² + 2pq + q² = 1 (genotype frequency), and p + q = 1 (allele frequency).
- Calculations using the given equation can find these relevant frequencies for a population.
Genetic Diversity and Heterozygosity Index
- Greater genetic diversity allows populations to adapt to changing environments.
- Higher chances for individuals with suitable alleles to survive and contribute to the population.
- Genetic diversity is crucial for dealing with disease and inbreeding.
- Heterozygosity index (H) measures genetic diversity.
- H is calculated by dividing the number of heterozygotes by the total number of individuals in the population. This is a proportion measure and not affected by population size.
Genetic Diversity Over Time
- Genetic diversity tends to increase over time.
- Random mutations accumulate in populations, adding to variation.
Classification and Taxonomy
- Classification organizes life based on relationships and similarities among organisms.
- It is based on phenotypes and genotypes, and focuses on the species concept.
- Taxonomy is the scientific study of classification.
Hierarchical and Phylogenetic Classifications
- Hierarchical classification categorizes organisms into increasingly smaller groups.
- This is nested, with larger groups containing smaller groups. There are no overlaps.
- Phylogenetic classification groups organisms based on evolutionary history and shared ancestry. This shows patterns of relationships based on shared structure and characteristics.
- Molecular phylogeny uses DNA and protein sequences to assess relationships among species. By understanding shared common ancestry, one can understand how closely related species are.
Peer Review Process
- Research is published in journals, websites, or conferences for review by other scientists.
- Scientists in the same field anonymously review research.
- This includes repeating the experiment and interpreting the results.
- Accurate findings and claims are corroborated and validated, while invalid claims are flagged.
Plant Cell Similarities and Differences
- Similarities between plant and animal cells include a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, a cell surface membrane, cytoplasm, and linear DNA.
- Differences include the rigid cell wall made of cellulose, chloroplasts, amyloplasts, larger central vacuole surrounded by a membrane (tonoplast), plasmodesmata connecting cytoplasm between cells, pits in cell walls, and a middle lamella.
Plant Cell Structures (EM Images)
- Use of electron microscopy images to identify plant cell structures.
Alpha-Glucose and Beta-Glucose
- Alpha and beta glucose differ in the arrangement of hydroxyl groups around carbon 1.
Starch and Cellulose
- Starch forms spirals due to the alpha-glucose linkage.
- Cellulose forms straight chains due to the beta-glucose linkage.
Lignin
- Lignin is laid down in rings and spirals within cells.
- Lignin makes the cell walls waterproof.
- This is important for transporting water in xylem vessels.
- Lignification may also restrict the entry of water, oxygen, and ions into the cell.
- Sclerenchyma fibres also have lignin.
Importance of Water to Plants
- Water forms hydrogen bonds, allowing it to dissolve glucose.
- Water has cohesion and adhesion for transporting molecules in plants.
- Water has a high specific heat capacity, which helps regulate temperature in plant systems.
William Withering's Discovery of Foxglove Remedy
- Withering observed a woman curing herself of dropsy with a herbal remedy.
- The remedy was a mixture of many herbs, and Withering identified foxglove.
- He discovered the importance of appropriate dosage.
- This involved slowly increasing the dosage until symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting appeared, and then slightly reducing it.
Double-Blind Trials
- Double-blind trials have neither patients nor doctors knowing who received the treatment or placebo.
- This is a critical step for eliminating bias in research.
Placebo Effect
- Placebo effects are responses to a treatment perceived to be active, even if inactive ingredients are present.
- A placebo can be used as a control experiment.
- The placebo effect can invalidate research if not accounted for and controlled.
Plant-Based Products and Oil-Based Fuels/Plastics
- Plant-based products can offer an alternative to oil-based fuels and plastics.
- Plant-based products are often biodegradable.
- The production of such materials can be carbon neutral.
- However, there is a lack of space which can cause issues for biofuel crops, and the intensive agriculture that may be needed to produce such products requires high levels of energy.
Zoos and Studbooks for Genetic Conservation
- Zoos use studbooks to meticulously track the breeding of animals and manage gene pools.
- This prevents inbreeding and maintains genetic diversity.
- This involves coordinating the movement of animals between different zoos for breeding purposes.
Reintroduction Programmes and Problems
- Reintroduction programmes face challenges such as animals not being as adaptable to their natural habitat, and possible losses in habitat, insufficient food supply, or a lack of genetic diversity within the population.
Seed Banks - Objectives
- Seed banks aim to preserve plant genetic diversity to act as a safety net against extinction.
- They collect and store seeds from a wide array of plant species, preserving them for future use in reintroduction or scientific research.
- Aims of seed banking include preservation of 25% or more of plant species by 2020.
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Description
Test your knowledge on evolution and natural selection through questions about species diversity, competition, and genetic concepts. This quiz covers key principles such as the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the effects of environmental changes on populations.
