UNIT 1 MID TE RM

REVIEW
LOGI CAL DIVERS ITY
BIO
 Section A: Biological Diversity Review

Variations are the differences in characteristics of organisms. They can be caused by

genetic and environmental factors.

Variation within a species is called intraspecific variation. These are the differences
between individuals, such as different colours, sizes, and anatomical features - often due
to genetic differences in their DNA.
Sometimes, this variation within a species is due to the sex of the individual.

Size and colour are most often the traits that differ between the male and female.
Variation between species is called interspecific variation. These are the differences
between species such as the number and variety of organisms in an area; these
differences better enable an organism to compete for resources or for reproduction
purposes.
 Variations for Survival

A structural adaptation is an adaptation that involves a change in an organism's physical

appearance and structure. Examples: colour, eyes, horns, feet, fur. A behavioral
adaptation is an adaptation that involves a change in an organism's habits and lifestyle.
Examples: mating, migration, hunting, nest building.
Adaptations allow an organism to compete for survival and reproduce in the
environment. A niche is where an organism lives and what it does and what it eats.

1. A generalist is an organism that lives in a broad niche; examples include deer, coyotes,
and ravens.

2. A specialist is an organism that lives in a narrow niche; examples include pandas,

koalas, and cacti.
 Relationships Between Species

Predator-Prey Relationships involve a predator organism who hunts or consumes the prey
organism.
Specialization allows many different species to live in the same ecosystem
Symbiosis is the close dependence between species. There
are three main types:

1.Commensalism: two organisms that live in direct contact

with each other, neither is harmed

2. Mutualism: the relationship benefits both species

3. Parasitism: the relationship harms one organism and

benefits the other
 Section B: DNA Review
All of your genetic information is stored in the nucleus of a cell. It is the blueprint for life.
There are over 3 billion possible combinations of human DNA.
 Genes Determine Our Characteristics

Our genes determine what proteins are produced; in so doing, they determine the types
of characteristics we will possess. There are two types of characteristics:

1. Heritable characteristics – traits that are passed on directly from parents to

offspring (generation to generation).

HOW? Genetic material from each of the parents combines during sexual reproduction

2. Non-heritable characteristics – traits that are not passed on directly from parents to
offspring

HOW? These traits are acquired due to an individual's influences from their surroundings
These characteristics can be further categorized by the type of variation they exhibit:

1. Continuous Variation - inherited characteristics that can have a range of possible

forms.
Examples:

2. Discrete Variation – inherited characteristics that have a limited number of variations

to choose from. An individual either has the characteristic or it does not. Another individual
may have the other characteristic.
Examples:
Technology and Variation

Genetic Engineering: A gene or a strand of DNA is transported from one species

to another; A desirable trait from one organism is given to another; An artificial
variation is created for that organism. Examples include pesticides in a potato plant
or salmon with antifreeze in their blood. This can lead to larger crops and higher
yields of offspring.

Transgenic Animals: Human DNA (proteins) is inserted into animals; these

animals can now produce human proteins. Transgenic animals can also be used for
human organ transplants (pigs)

Gene Therapy: A virus or bacteria is used to replace a defective portion of DNA;

the revised DNA is returned to the baby so the baby starts to produce new healthy
cells
Section C: Reproduction Review

Adaptations and variations are passed down from generation to generation. Traits and
characteristics that are passed on from the parents to the offspring are heritable.

Asexual Reproduction
Somatic or body cells also divide by a specific type of asexual reproduction known as
mitosis. The main steps of mitosis are:
Sexual Reproduction
Meiosis is a specific process of sexual reproduction, which results in the formation of the sex
cells or gametes.
Section D: Patterns of Inheritance Review

Genetics is the branch of biology dealing with the principles of variation and inheritance in
animals and plants.

This work was begun in 1853 by a monk named Gregor Mendel. He conducted a series of
experiments on pea plants over an eight-year period.

•A dominant trait is a characteristic that is always expressed, or always appears, in an

individual.

•A recessive trait is a characteristic that is present but inactive and is therefore not
usually expressed in an individual. (A recessive trait may be expressed if it is the only trait
present)
•A purebred can be homozygous dominant (e.g. having two dominant alleles) or
homozygous recessive (e.g having two recessive alleles).

•A hybrid is considered to be heterozygous because it has a dominant and a recessive

allele.
Punnett Squares
Examples
1. SpongeBob SquarePants recently met SpongeSusie Roundpants at a dance. SpongeBob
is heterozygous for his square shape, but SpongeSusie is round. Create a Punnett
square to show the possibilities that would result if SpongeBob and SpongeSusie had
children.

A. List the possible genotypes and phenotypes for their children.

B. What are the chances of a child with a square shape? ____ out of ____ or ____%

C. What are the chances of a child with a round shape? ____ out of ____ or ____%
2. Patrick met Patti at the dance. Both of them are heterozygous for their pink body color,
which is dominant over a yellow body color. Create a Punnett square to show the
possibilities that would result if Patrick and Patti had children.

A. List the possible genotypes and phenotypes for their children.

B. What are the chances of a child with a pink body? ____ out of ____ or ____%

C. What are the chances of a child with a yellow body? ____ out of ____ or ____%
3. Everyone in Squidward's family has light blue skin, which is the dominant trait for body
color in his hometown of Squid Valley. His family brags that they are a "purebred" line. He
recently married a nice girl who has light green skin, which is a recessive trait. Create a
Punnett square to show the possibilities that would result if Squidward and his new bride
had children. Use B to represent the dominant gene and b to represent the recessive
gene.

A. List the possible genotypes and phenotypes for their children.

B. What are the chances of a child with light blue skin? ____%

C. What are the chances of a child with light green skin? ____%

D. Would Squidward's children still be considered purebreds? Explain!

Section E: Selection and Human Impacts on Biodiversity Review

Artificial Selection is breeding by humans of plants and animals with desirable traits to
produce offspring with those desirable traits. Example: Two sunflower plants are taller than
the others in a field. The farmer cross-pollinates these two sunflower plants so that the
offspring of these two plants will also be tall. In other words, humankind decides which traits
will be passed onto the offspring. This process has been used throughout human history.

Artificial selection often involves reproductive technologies. Two common types of these
technologies are:

•Artificial Insemination: artificial collection and injection of sperm from a male into a
female; used in livestock breeding

•In vitro Fertilization: fertilization that happens outside the body, usually in a Petri dish;
used in livestock breeding
Theory of Natural Selection
1.All organisms produce more offspring than can possibly survive.

2.There is incredible variation within each species.

3.Some of these variations increase the chances of an organism surviving to reproduce.

4.Over time, variations that are passed on lead to changes in the genetic characteristics of a
species.
Causes of Extinction and Extirpation

Extinction and extirpation are natural processes that have been part of Earth's history since
life first appeared on our planet. The difference between extinction and extirpation is the
degree of the species loss.

Extinction is when a species no longer exists on the planet. Examples are the dinosaurs.

Extirpation is when a species has died out or been lost from a specific region. Examples are
grizzly bears, which are now only found in the mountains of BC and Alberta when they used
to be found all the way from BC to Manitoba.
1. Natural Causes of Extinction and Extirpation

2. Human Causes of Extinctions and Extirpations

Effects of Extinctions and Extirpations

- reduce biological diversity

- extinctions reduce the number of species on the planet

- extirpation reduce biological diversity in areas from which the organism has disappeared

- when an organism disappears from an area on from the planet completely - other
organisms are affected (those that eat the organism or who are prey of the organism)
 Preserving Biodiversity

1. In-Situ Conservation, or the maintenance of wild organisms within their functioning

ecosystems

2. Ex-Situ Conservation, or the maintenance of organisms outside of their ecosystem or

natural habitats