Term | Definition |
Behavioral Isolation | Differences in behavior prevent mating |
Population Equilibrium | When the same number of individuals die as are born each year |
Gene Pool | The sum of all genes within a population |
Genetic Drift | The random change in a gene's allele frequency over time |
Habitat | The environment where a species lives |
Habitat Isolation | An isolating mechanism in which two species occupy different habitats within the same general area |
Hybrid | The result of two species mating together |
Interbreeding | Mating or reproducing with one another |
Mutations | Sudden changes in an organism’s DNA |
Population | A group of individuals of the same species living in the same location, capable of reproduction |
Species | A specific type of organism, containing one or more populations |
Stabilizing Selection | Natural selection that prevents overall changes in populations |
Natural Selection | Process where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to reproduce. |
Genetic Isolation | The lack of interbreeding of organisms within a species |
Aerobic | Any process that uses oxygen |
Anaerobic | Any process that does not need oxygen |
Prokaryotes | Single cell organisms without a nucleus |
Eukaryotes | Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus |
Organelles | Small units inside a cell with various functions |
Permeable | Allowing things through |
Passive Transport | The passage of molecules through the membrane, not requiring energy |
Active Transport | The passage of molecules through the membrane that requires energy |
Diffusion | The passage of molecules from a high concentration to a low concentration |
Semi-permeable | Allowing some substances through but not others |
Asexual Reproduction | Reproduction using only one parent; exact copies of the parent are made |
Sexual Reproduction | Reproduction that combines the genes from two parents to produce offspring |
Mitosis | The splitting of a cell involving many chromosomes; an exact copy of the cell is made |
Meiosis | The splitting of sex cells in which the chromosome number is cut in half; eggs/sperm are eventually produced |
Cytokinesis | The actual splitting of the cells |
Diploid | Containing two sets of chromosomes (2n) |
Haploid | Containing only one set of chromosomes (n) |
Blending | A theory of inheritance that says that offspring receive a mixture of the parents’ characteristics |
Self-pollination | Fertilizing oneself; the egg and the sperm are created from one plant |
Pollination | The process of fertilization in plants |
Dominant | Traits that are expressed even when another gene is present |
Recessive | Traits that are not expressed when a dominant trait is present |
Law of Dominance | If two genes are present, only the dominant trait is expressed |
Law of Segregation | For each trait, two types of genes are present: one from the mother and one from the father |
Monohybrid Cross | The mating of two parents in which only one trait is tracked |
Generation | A group of offspring that are approximately the same age |
Probability | The chance of an event occurring |
Punnett Square | The chance of an event occurring |
Alleles | The forms of genes that produce different appearances |
Homozygous | Containing two of the same alleles |
Heterozygous | Containing two different alleles |
Genotype | The genetic makeup of an organism |
Phenotype | An organism’s expressed trait |
Dihybrid Cross | A cross that examines two traits at the same time |
Autotroph | An organism capable of making organic substances from inorganic source (Can make own food) |
Heterotroph | An organism that can’t synthesize its own food and depends on autotrophs |
Homeostasis | Maintaining a stable environment |
Phylogeny | Relating organisms by their evolutionary similarities |
Taxonomy | The practice and science of classification |
Binomial Nomenclature | The system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism (genus and species) |
Binary Fission | Process by which all bacteria reproduce |
Genome | The whole DNA makeup of an organism |
Carrying Capacity | The number of organisms that can survive in a given environment. |