1.1 - Examining Diversity

Biological Diversity - a wide range of species and the ecosystem processes that they participate in (refers to a few types of earth organisms) 

Species - A specific group of creatures with similar features and the ability to produce children (Humans)

Population - The same resources and environments are shared by individuals from the same species (school of fish)

• Community - Population of different species living in one area

Ecosystem - All living (biotic) things interacting with other living and non­living (abiotic) things in a shared environment. (Desert, Prairie)

Species Distribution: Species in our planet are not distributed evenly

Variation within a species:

→ differences in characteristics 

in the SAME species

Examples: humans (eye color, height, blood type)

Variation between species:

→ differences in characteristics 

between DIFFERENT species

Examples: fish have scales, trees have bark

1.2 - Interdependence

Niche - Role an organism has based on where it lives and what it does

• Broad Niche - need to adapt to many environmental changes and utilize many food sources in order to survive. (Generalists)

• Narrow Niche - need to be able to out-compete other organisms for resources. They eat a specific type of food or live in a specific habitat.

Commensalism - one species benefits while the other neither benefits or is harmed

Mutualism - both benefits 

Parasitism - one benefits while other is harmed

1.3 - Variability within species

• Known as Genetic Diversity/Variability

• Variation & Survival: All living creatures have growth and reproduction as their "goal." Variation and diversity help in making this happen. (Variety = Chance of survival)

• Natural Selection: occurs when an individual's ability to reproduce is "selected" by their environment.

2.1 - Closer look at variation

Types of variation: 

• Discrete: traits that have certain forms and fit into a particular group (One or the other)

• Continuous: Has a range of options

  Ex: Height, Weight

• Heritable: Traits passed from generation to generation

  Ex: Eye and skin colour, Hair type

• Non- Heritable: Acquired Traits (have to be learned)

• Ex: Guitar, Piano (basically any instrument)

2.2 - Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction: Involves only 1 parent (child's traits is identical to parent)

• Advantages: does not require specialized cells, reproduce quickly & efficiently

• Disadvantages: population can get wiped out easily because there is no variation

1. BINARY FUSION

• Upon dividing, a cell copies its genetic material and produces two new cells.

• Only one-celled organisms can do it

• Ex: Bacteria, Amoeba

2. BUDDING

• Offspring are created from a bud (outgrowth) on the parent, and their genetic information is doubled.

• Ex: Hydra, Yeast

3. SPORES

• similar to seeds, but are produced directly from the single parent’s cells

• Ex: Fungi, Ferns

4. VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION

• Reproduction of a plant without a seed

• Ex: Cutting, Runners Rhizomes

Sexual Reproduction: Involves 2 people and does boombayah (Child will have mixed traits)

• Advantages: provides a lot of variation (increases chances of survival, can adapt to environment)

• Disadvantages: takes a lot of energy and time, requires special cells, limited number of organisms

1. Fertilization: Union of male (sperm) and female (egg) gametes (sex cells)

2. Zygote: Single cell created by joining 2 gametes

3. Cleavage: First divisions of the zygote

4. Embryo: Undeveloped organism in beginning stage

3.1 - Transmitter of genetic code

Nucleus - Positively charged centre of an atom; contains protons and neutrons

Allele - a possible form of gene (located in gene) Ex: Blue eyes 

Chromosome - a structure in which DNA is arranged and along with genes are located (humans have 46)

DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid) - genetic material found mainly in the nucleus of cells of living things

• Always in pairs  

• Structure: Double Helix

Gene -  a part of DNA, located at a place on the chromosome 

• Determines a specific characteristic

• Ex: Eye colour

DNA, genes, and chromosomes collaborate to create unique physical characteristics, with DNA building structure and genes providing specific traits, and alleles determining gene appearance

The chemicals Adenine and Thymine will always be together, same with Cytosine and Guanine (Genetic Code)

Cell—>Chromosomes —>Genes—>Alleles

3.2 - Division of cells

Mitosis

• Body cells divide and are formed

• Produces 2 IDENTICAL offspring

• Used to make skin cells

• Used in binary fission

1. Parent Cell

2. Chromosomes Duplicate 

3. Align in middle of cell

4. 2 identical daughter cells 

Miosis

• Occurs in gametes 

• Produces 4 sex cells (half amount of DNA)

1. Chromosomes duplicate

2. Chromosome crossover

3. Seperate to each pole (division 1)

4. Chromosomes separate to each pole (division 2)

3.3 - Patterns of Inhertiance 

Dominant Trait - is expressed in all offspring (They always “win”) (B)

Recessive Trait - “Loses out” to dominant trait and is hidden unless paired with another recessive trait (b)

Genotype - the pair of alleles for a specific trait (always a letter and only has 3 options):

• Ex: Bb BB or bb 

Phenotype - physical appearance of a genotype

• Ex: Bb - black fur

Homozygous (Purebred)

• Having 2 identical alleles of a particular gene 

1. Homozygous Dominant (BB)

2. Homozygous Recessive (bb)

Heterozygous (Hybrid) 

• Having 2 different alleles of a particular gene

Heterozygous (Bb)

4.1 - Patterns of Inheritance 

Extinction - disappearance of every species in the planet

• Most mass extinctions were likely caused by a claustrophobic event

Extirpation - local disappearance in a specific area

Natural Causes:

1. Overspecialization: sometimes the environment can change too quickly for the species’ adaptation to keep up

   Floods, Volcanic eruptions, fire, overpopulation, disease

2. Environmental: usually happens because the environment remains unchanged for a very long time

Human Causes:

1. Habitat destruction: construction of buildings, agricultural development, logging, damming of rivers, pollution (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers)

2. Non- Native Species: Native species decline, more competition, less of everything

3. Over-Hunting

4.2 - Selecting Desirable Traits
Artificial Selection - process of picking and breeding individuals with desirable traits (Desired traits: size, color, weather resistance)

Biotechnology - use of living things to make agricultural industrial and medicinal products

• Artificial Reproductive Technology: Artificial method of joining a male and female gamete

• Cloning: Genetically identical to their parents

• Genetic engineering: Any technology that directly change the DNA of an organism