Inheritance Variation Evolution

1) What is DNA ?
This is a list of instructions for how to build an organism.

2) What is Reproduction ?
Asexual or sexual

3) What is the Genome ?
The genome is the entire genetic material of that organism

4) What does the Nucleus of a human cell contain ?
Chromosomes made of DNA

5) What do Chromosomes contain ?
They contain genes, which are short lengths of DNA.
It is the genes (or DNA) that give humans there different characteristics.
Each chromosome carries hundreds to thousands of genes.

6) What happens to these genes during reproduction ?
Genes from the mother and genes from the father get mixed together.
23 chromosones from the mother
23 chromosones from the father
Humans have 23 pairs, dogs have 39 pairs

7) What does a DNA molecule look like ?
It is a spiral, made of two chains twisted together.

8) What is Genetic Inheritance ?
This is the process where genes are passed down from parents to their offspring.

9) What is Adaptation ?
This is the process by which a species becomes more suited to its environment.

10) What is a Species ?
A species is a group of living organisms that are all broadly similar and can, at least in principle, breed with one another.

11) Do different species have different genes ?
Yes.

12) What does the word Variation mean when talking about DNA ?
Variation is the difference between the organisms.
There is also some variation within a specific species.

13) Can you describe and give an example of a Continuous Variation ?
The feature can be any value within a range. For example height and weight.

14) Can you describe and give an example of a Discontinuous Variation ?
The feature can only take on certain values. For example blood group.

15) What does the term 'Survival of the Fitest" mean ?
This refers to the fact that the organisms that are more suited (or adjusted) to their environment will survive for longer than those that are not.
Some organisms are better at competing with others from their own species.
This is because they show variation due to differences in their genes.

16) Explain how Variation leads to Natural Selection ?
Organisms with characteristics that make them better at competing are more likely to survive and reproduce.
This means they are more likely to pass on these useful characteristics to their offspring/children.
So over time this characteristic will become more common.
And this process is called natural selection.

17) What could happen if an environment changes too quickly ?
Some organisms will become extinct.

18) What is Evolution ?
This is the gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time.

19) What is Selective Breeding ?
This is the process where humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics.

20) What is Genetic Engineering ?
This is a process that involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give it a desired characteristic.

21) What is Classification ?
This is the organization of living organisms into groups based on their similarities and structures.