Mutation
A heritable change in genetic information
Point Mutation
The change of one or a few nucleotides that occurs at a single location in a gene
Frameshift Mutation
A kind of mutation that can change every amino acid that follows the point of mutation
Mutagen
Chemical or physical agents in the environment that interact with DNA and may cause a mutation
Polyploidy
Condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes
SNP
Single base differences among people; most common type of genetic among people
STRs
Locations in the genome where short sequences of DNA repeat a variable number of times
DNA sequencing
Process of determining the exact order of bases within a DNA molecule
Restriction Enzyme
Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides
Gel Electrophoresis
Procedure used to separate and analyze DNA fragments
PCR
Process used to make multiple copies of a specific DNA molecule
Foresnics
Scientific study of crime scene evidence
DNA Fingerprinting
Process used to create a profile of a DNA sample based on designated genetic markers
Evolution
Genetic change over time; process by which modern species have descended from ancient species
Fossil
Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms
Artificial Selection
Selective breeding of plants/animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring
Adaption
Heritable characteristic that increases an organisms ability to survive and reproduce in its enviroment
Fitness
How well an organism can survive and reproduce in its enviroment
Natural Selection
Process by which organisms with variations most suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully
Mimicry
Resembling another creature or inanimate object, either for defense or to gain other advantages
Biogeography
Study of past and present distribution of organisms
Homologous Structure
Body part that has a similar structure in different species of common ancestry
Analogous Structure
Body part that shares a common function, but not common structure
Vestigial Structure
Body part that was inherited from ancestors but has lost much or all of its original function
Vertebrate
Animal that has a backbone
Paleontologist
Scientist who studies fossils
Transitional Species
Fossil that shows traits of both an ancestral species and a descendant species that followed
Endosymbiotic Theory
Explanation for how mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells formed from a symbiotic relationship among different prokaryotic cells
Biodiversity
The total variety of organisms in the biosphere
Species
A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Speciation
Formation of a new species
Niche
An area of the environment that requires a special set of skills or traits to obtain food, avoid predators, and reproduce
Adaptive Radiation
Process by which a single species or a small group of species rapidly evolves into several different species that live in different ways
Extinct
A term that refers to a species that has died out and has no living members
Microbe
A microscopic organism
Microbiome
All of the microbes living in a particular environment
Pathogen
A disease causing microbe
Vaccination
Preventative treatment that produces immunity against a disease
Antibiotic
Medicine used to kill bacteria/ treat a bacterial infection
Virulence
The harmfulness of a germ
Mutation
A heritable change in genetic information
Point Mutation
The change of one or a few nucleotides that occurs at a single location in a gene
Frameshift Mutation
A kind of mutation that can change every amino acid that follows the point of mutation
Mutagen
Chemical or physical agents in the environment that interact with DNA and may cause a mutation
Polyploidy
Condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes
SNP
Single base differences among people; most common type of genetic among people
STRs
Locations in the genome where short sequences of DNA repeat a variable number of times
DNA sequencing
Process of determining the exact order of bases within a DNA molecule
Restriction Enzyme
Enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific sequence of nucleotides
Gel Electrophoresis
Procedure used to separate and analyze DNA fragments
PCR
Process used to make multiple copies of a specific DNA molecule
Foresnics
Scientific study of crime scene evidence
DNA Fingerprinting
Process used to create a profile of a DNA sample based on designated genetic markers
Evolution
Genetic change over time; process by which modern species have descended from ancient species
Fossil
Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms
Artificial Selection
Selective breeding of plants/animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring
Adaption
Heritable characteristic that increases an organisms ability to survive and reproduce in its enviroment
Fitness
How well an organism can survive and reproduce in its enviroment
Natural Selection
Process by which organisms with variations most suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully
Mimicry
Resembling another creature or inanimate object, either for defense or to gain other advantages
Biogeography
Study of past and present distribution of organisms
Homologous Structure
Body part that has a similar structure in different species of common ancestry
Analogous Structure
Body part that shares a common function, but not common structure
Vestigial Structure
Body part that was inherited from ancestors but has lost much or all of its original function
Vertebrate
Animal that has a backbone
Paleontologist
Scientist who studies fossils
Transitional Species
Fossil that shows traits of both an ancestral species and a descendant species that followed
Endosymbiotic Theory
Explanation for how mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells formed from a symbiotic relationship among different prokaryotic cells
Biodiversity
The total variety of organisms in the biosphere
Species
A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Speciation
Formation of a new species
Niche
An area of the environment that requires a special set of skills or traits to obtain food, avoid predators, and reproduce
Adaptive Radiation
Process by which a single species or a small group of species rapidly evolves into several different species that live in different ways
Extinct
A term that refers to a species that has died out and has no living members
Microbe
A microscopic organism
Microbiome
All of the microbes living in a particular environment
Pathogen
A disease causing microbe
Vaccination
Preventative treatment that produces immunity against a disease
Antibiotic
Medicine used to kill bacteria/ treat a bacterial infection
Virulence
The harmfulness of a germ