genetic adaptation and adaptation

• What is genetic diversity?

  Number of different alleles in a population
• How do alleles arise?

  They arise by mutation
• What are alleles?

  Variations of a particular gene
• What defines a population?

  A group of interbreeding individuals of the same species
• Why is genetic diversity important?

  It enables natural selection to occur
• How can a new allele benefit its possessor?

  By positively changing the properties of a protein
• What is evolution?

  Change in allele frequency over generations
• How does natural selection contribute to evolution?

  It changes allele frequency in populations
• What are the principles of natural selection in evolution?

  1. Mutation: New alleles arise randomly
  2. Advantage: New alleles may benefit in certain environments
  3. Reproductive success: Beneficial traits lead to higher survival
  4. Inheritance: Advantageous alleles are passed to offspring
  5. Allele frequency: Beneficial alleles increase over generations
• What are the three types of adaptations?

  Anatomical, physiological, and behavioral
• Describe directional selection and its example.

  • Directional selection favors extreme traits
  • Example: Antibiotic resistance in bacteria
• Describe stabilizing selection and its example.

  • Stabilizing selection favors average traits
  • Example: Human birth weight

  
• What is a key feature of directional selection?

  Organisms with extreme trait variations have an advantage
• What is a key feature of stabilizing selection?

  Organisms with average traits have an advantage
• What usually triggers directional selection?

  A change in the environment
• What is the effect of directional selection on a population over generations?

  Increased frequency of organisms with extreme traits
• What is the effect of stabilizing selection on a population over generations?

  Increased frequency of organisms with average traits
• Why is it important to maintain a pure culture of bacteria?

  To prevent outcompeting or harmful bacteria
• Why should the lid of a petri dish not be sealed completely?

  To allow oxygen in and prevent anaerobic bacteria
• Why use a paper disc with no antimicrobial agent?

  To act as a control for the experiment
• Why incubate the agar plate upside down?

  To prevent condensation on the agar surface
• What should be done if inhibition zones are irregular?

  Repeat readings in different positions
• Why not use a higher concentration of antimicrobial?

  Clear zones may overlap, complicating results
• Why incubate at 25°C or less?

  To prevent growth of human pathogens
• What is the role of mutations in natural selection?

  They create new alleles, increasing diversity
• What is the misconception about antibiotics causing mutations?

  Mutations happen randomly, not due to antibiotics
• What does it mean for bacteria to be resistant to antibiotics?

  They resist the effects, not become immune
• What is the purpose of aseptic techniques in microbial growth experiments?

  To prevent contamination and ensure accurate results
• What is the purpose of sterilizing equipment in microbial experiments?

  To kill microbes and prevent contamination
• Why is it important to tape the lid of the petri dish lightly?

  To allow gas exchange while preventing contamination
• What is the significance of measuring the diameter of inhibition zones?

  To assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial substances
• How is the area of the inhibition zone calculated?

  Using the formula $\pi r^2$
• What is the role of the Bunsen burner in aseptic techniques?

  It creates an upward air current to prevent contamination
• Why is it important to wash hands before conducting experiments?

  To kill microbes and prevent contamination
• What happens if bacteria outcompete the bacteria being investigated?

  It can lead to inaccurate experimental results
• Why is it necessary to incubate at a temperature below human body temperature?

  To prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria
• What is the purpose of using a sterile spreader in microbial experiments?

  To evenly distribute bacteria over the agar plate
• What is the significance of using different concentrations of antimicrobials?

  To compare their effectiveness against microbial growth
• Why is it important to use aseptic techniques when transferring bacteria?

  To prevent contamination and ensure accurate results
• What is the role of the agar growth medium in microbial experiments?

  It provides nutrients for bacterial growth