Inheritance, Variation and Evolution - Topic 6 (paper 2)

• Vector: A carrier used to transfer a gene from one organism to another
• Adult cell cloning: A type of cloning that forms an embryo from an adult body cell
• Allele: A version of a gene
• Amino acids: Small molecules from which proteins are assembled
• Archaea: Primitive bacteria existing in extreme environments
• Asexual reproduction: A form of reproduction involving a single parent
• Creates genetically identical offspring
• Binomial system: The universal system of naming organisms using their genus and species
• Charles Darwin: The scientist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection
• Chromosome: A long, coiled molecule of DNA that carries genetic information in the form of genes
• Classification: The organisation of organisms into groups based on their characteristics and structure
• Coding DNA: A sequence of DNA that codes for the production of a protein
• Complementary: Describes how the chemical bases in DNA pair up with each other
• A pairs with T and C pairs with G
• Cuttings: The simplest method of cloning plants
• A branch is cut from a parent plant and replanted in compost after removing the lower leaves
• Cystic fibrosis: A cellular membrane disorder resulting from the presence of a recessive allele
• DNA: A double-stranded polymer wound to form a double helix
• Carries the genetic code
• Dominant: Describes an allele that is always expressed
• Represented by a capital letter
• Embryo screening: A procedure used to determine the presence of faulty genes in an embryo produced by IVF
• A few embryonic cells are removed and screened for defective alleles
• Embryo transplants: The simplest method of animal cloning
• Cells are removed from a developing embryo, split apart and grown in culture, before being transplanted into host mothers
• Evolution: The gradual change in the inherited traits within a population over time
• Meiosis is the formation of four non-identical cells from one cell.
• GM crops: Crops that have had their genomes modified by the insertion of a desired gene from another organism
• Family tree: A chart used to show the inheritance of a condition in a family
• Extinction: The death of all members of a species
• Linnaean system: The classification of organisms into kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species, as developed by Carl Linnaeus
• Gametes: Sex cells (sperm and egg cells) with half the usual number of chromosomes
• Evolutionary tree: A diagram which illustrates the evolutionary relationships between organisms
• Genome: The complete genetic material of an organism
• MRSA: A type of bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic, methicillin
• Describes all alleles
• Mitosis is the formation of two identical cells from one cell.
• Inbreeding: The formation of offspring from the breeding of closely related individuals
• Gene: A section of DNA that codes for a specific sequence of amino acids which undergo polymerisation to form a protein
• Fertilisation: The fusion of the nucleus of male and female gametes