Meiosis and Genetic Diversity Quiz

Meiosis changes the number of chromosome sets (ploidy) from diploid (2n) to haploid (n) during the process.

Meiosis produces genetically unique daughter cells through crossing over and independent assortment of chromosomes.

A cross involving two traits, each with a dominant and a recessive allele, used to predict the inheritance of both traits.

The random distribution of chromosomes into gametes during meiosis, leading to genetic variation.

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, leading to new combinations of alleles.

Genes located on the same chromosome, inherited together.

Change in the genetic composition of a population over generations.

Suggested Earth's gradual change over time, influencing Darwin.

Population growth exceeding resources, impacting Darwin's ideas.

Preserved remains of ancient organisms.

Type of rock where most fossils are found.

Fossil age determined by layers of rock.

Specific age of a fossil using techniques like carbon dating.

Similarity in traits due to shared ancestry.

Survival and reproduction based on environmental adaptation.

Genetic variation in populations stays constant without evolution.

Genetic frequencies remain constant without evolutionary forces.

Inherited trait increasing survival and reproduction.

The formation of new species due to geographic isolation, where populations diverge over time and become reproductively isolated.

The formation of new species within the same geographic area, often due to ecological or behavioral differences.

Mechanisms that prevent interbreeding between populations, crucial for maintaining species boundaries.

Barriers that prevent successful fertilization, acting before the formation of a zygote.

Barriers that hinder the viability or fertility of hybrid offspring, acting after fertilization.

A prezygotic barrier where species have different mating seasons or times.

A prezygotic barrier where species have different courtship rituals or signals.

A prezygotic barrier where species have physically incompatible reproductive structures.

A prezygotic barrier where sperm and eggs from different species are not able to fuse.

A postzygotic barrier where hybrid offspring do not develop properly and die early.

A postzygotic barrier where hybrid offspring are sterile and cannot produce offspring.

A postzygotic barrier where hybrid offspring are fertile but their offspring are infertile or inviable.

An evolutionary tree that depicts the relationships between species based on shared ancestry, constructed using morphological or molecular data.

The evolution of similar traits in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressures.

Large-scale events that result in the rapid loss of many species, often caused by catastrophic events or environmental shifts.

The proportion of individuals in a population with two copies of the dominant allele (AA).

The proportion of individuals in a population with one dominant and one recessive allele (Aa).

The proportion of individuals in a population with two copies of the recessive allele (aa).

The proportion of allele 'A' in a population, calculated from the genotype frequencies.

The proportion of allele 'a' in a population, calculated from the genotype frequencies.

A mode of selection where one extreme phenotype is favored, shifting the population towards that trait.

Evolution of distinct traits in competing species, reducing resource overlap and promoting coexistence.

Favors intermediate phenotypes, reducing variation and selecting against extremes.

Favors both extreme phenotypes, increasing genetic diversity and selecting against intermediates.

Maintains genetic diversity by favoring multiple alleles or phenotypes.

A mode of selection where traits that increase mating success are favored, even if they reduce survival.

A process where individuals with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully.

A random change in allele frequencies due to chance events, especially significant in small populations.

The transfer of alleles between populations due to migration and interbreeding.

Single-celled microorganisms that are prokaryotes, but differ from bacteria in genetics, biochemistry, and cell structure. They are more closely related to eukaryotes than bacteria.

Archaea that thrive in extreme environments, such as hot springs, salt lakes, or acidic environments.

A theory explaining the origin of mitochondria and plastids in eukaryotic cells, suggesting they were once free-living prokaryotes engulfed by a primitive eukaryotic cell.

An ancestral eukaryotic cell engulfed an aerobic bacterium, leading to the formation of mitochondria in all eukaryotic cells.

Organelles in eukaryotic cells responsible for aerobic respiration, generating ATP using oxygen.

An ancestral eukaryotic cell engulfed a photosynthetic bacterium, leading to plastids (including chloroplasts) in plants, green algae, and red algae.

Organelles found in plants and algae, including chloroplasts, responsible for photosynthesis.

Plastids found in plants, green algae, and red algae, containing chlorophyll for photosynthesis, producing glucose and oxygen.

Freshwater algae that are the closest relatives of land plants, sharing key traits like chlorophyll a and b and cellulose in cell walls.

Plants lacking vascular tissue, which includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They depend on water for reproduction.

Specialized tissues in plants, xylem and phloem, responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant.

Plants with vascular tissue, including lycophytes, pteridophytes (ferns), and seed plants. They have a dominant sporophyte phase.

Plants with vascular tissue, true leaves, and spores for reproduction.

Shared derived characteristics uniting different plant lineages, indicating their evolutionary relationships.

Benefits humans obtain from ecosystems, like clean water, food, and regulation of climate.

The interconnected network of feeding relationships within an ecosystem, showing who eats who.

The continuous flow of nutrients and energy through an ecosystem, including carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles.

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances, such as floods or fires.

More diverse ecosystems are more resilient and stable, better at providing ecosystem services.

Plants that reproduce via seeds, possessing vascular tissue. They include gymnosperms (like conifers) and angiosperms (flowering plants).

Seeds that are not enclosed within a fruit, meaning they are 'naked'.

Seeds enclosed within a fruit, characteristic of flowering plants.

A unique process in angiosperms where one sperm fertilizes the egg to form a zygote, and another sperm fuses with the central cell to form the endosperm.

A specialized egg developed by amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals) to support embryonic development in terrestrial environments.

Both offer protection and nutrition for the embryo. Seeds evolve in plants for terrestrial reproduction, while amniotic eggs in amniotes allow for independent eggs on land.

Plants are primary producers, converting sunlight into energy that fuels food webs. They also influence cycling of nutrients and maintain ecosystem health.

Includes competition for resources, herbivory, mutualism with pollinators/fungi, parasitism, and commensalism.

Fungi are heterotrophs, obtaining energy by decomposing organic matter externally using enzymes and absorbing nutrients.

Fungi play a vital role in recycling carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus back into the ecosystem through decomposition.

A mutualistic relationship where fungi provide nutrients to plants in exchange for sugars.

Fungi have complex mating systems with many mating types and multiple life stages, often involving asexual and sexual reproduction.

The evolutionary history of animals, showing their relationships and branching patterns based on shared characteristics.

A shared derived characteristic, found in a group of animals, helpful for identifying and understanding their relationships.

Key shared characteristics used to understand animal evolution, like a backbone for vertebrates or a segmented body for arthropods.

Single-celled eukaryotes that are the closest living relatives of animals. They are considered the likely ancestor of all animals.

A complex network of molecules that surrounds and supports cells, providing structure and communication in multicellular organisms.

Groups of similar cells that work together performing a specialized function in animals.

A body plan where parts are arranged around a central axis, like a pie.

A body plan where the organism can be divided into two equal halves along a midline, like a human.

The concentration of sensory organs and nervous tissue at the anterior end of an animal, forming a head.

A type of animal where the mouth forms first during development and the anus forms later.

A type of animal where the anus forms first during development and the mouth forms later.

A series of bones called vertebrae that form the backbone of vertebrates, providing support and protection.

The bony structure that encloses and protects the brain in vertebrates.

An internal skeleton that supports and protects the body in vertebrates, made of bone or cartilage.

Jawless fish, like lampreys and hagfish.

Jawed vertebrates, including most fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The ability of an organism to regulate its internal body temperature, like in mammals and birds.

Different feeding levels in an ecosystem, categorized by how organisms obtain energy. Producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and top predators each occupy a distinct trophic level.

The one-way movement of energy through an ecosystem. Producers capture sunlight, primary consumers eat producers, and so on, with energy being lost as heat at each level.

The continuous movement of essential elements (like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) within an ecosystem. Decomposers recycle matter back into the environment.

The movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, and living organisms. Human activities like burning fossil fuels disrupt this cycle.

The movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms. Human activities like fertilizer use affect nitrogen cycling.

The movement of phosphorus through rocks, soil, and living organisms. Mining phosphate for fertilizers disrupts the phosphorus cycle.

Significant and lasting changes in weather patterns over long periods due to human activities like greenhouse gas emissions.

The range of different genes within a population, providing the raw material for adaptation to changing environments.

The ability of an ecosystem to bounce back from disturbances, maintaining its function and structure.

The ability of an ecosystem to withstand disturbances without significant changes in structure or function.

The variety of life on Earth, encompassing genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

The temperature of a region determines whether it is hot (tropical), cold (polar), or temperate. This influences the types of plants and animals that can survive there.

The amount of rainfall or snowfall in a region directly influences the type of biome. Deserts are dry, while rainforests are wet.

The seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation lead to unique biomes, such as temperate forests, which experience distinct seasons.

The amount and angle of sunlight affect the temperature and growing seasons, particularly between the equator and poles.

Proximate causes explain how a behavior occurs (mechanisms), while ultimate causes explain why the behavior exists (evolutionary advantage).

Reciprocity involves helping with the expectation of future return, while altruism involves helping without expecting anything in return.

Predicts that altruism will evolve if the benefit to the recipient (B), adjusted for genetic relatedness (r), outweighs the cost to the helper (C).

A population grows when birth rates or immigration rates are higher than death rates or emigration rates.

A population shrinks when death rates or emigration rates are higher than birth rates or immigration rates.

Rapid population growth that occurs when resources are abundant and the environment can support unrestrained reproduction.

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without degrading the environment.

Factors like competition for resources and disease, which have a greater impact on population growth as the population density increases.

Factors like natural disasters, which can affect population size regardless of density.

Exponential growth is rapid and uncontrolled, while logistic growth accounts for environmental limitations and slows down as carrying capacity is reached.

Carrying capacity (K) is directly related to density-dependent factors, as these factors limit population growth as it nears K.