Reproduction

• In sexual reproduction, animals rely on the fusion of male and female gametes, which leads to fertilization
• Bacteria reproduce asexually, meaning offspring are exact copies of the parent, unlike sexual reproduction where genetic material is mixed from both parents
• During sexual reproduction, the nucleus of a gamete is released, and it comes together with another gamete's haploid nucleus to form the genome of a new diploid organism
• The process of sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes, resulting in offspring with half of the genetic material of a normal cell
• Variation is a trait or variant that is passed from parents to offspring during reproduction
• any difference between individuals in any species or group of organisms of any species
• A gene bank is a type of biorepository that preserves genetic material for future use
• Habitat is a place where an animal makes its home, essential for its survival
• Biodiversity refers to the variety of all living things and their interactions in an ecosystem
• Monoculture is when only one type of plant is grown by farmers
• Species are a particular or group of organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring
• Sustainable means doing something that can last, ensuring the continuity of resources
• Classification is the method of sorting organisms into groups with similarities
• An organism is a living thing, part of the biodiversity found in ecosystems
• Identical twins are very close genetically, originating from the same fertilized egg that split into two individuals
• A gamete is a reproductive cell of an animal or plant, essential for sexual reproduction
• A zygote is the first cell formed by the fusion of male and female gametes, marking the start of an individual
• Genetic information is passed through generations using inherited units of chemicals found in chromosomes
• When two gametes fuse, they form a zygote, the first cell of a new individual
• Variation is any difference of an individual or a group of organisms within a species
• Variation is important for the survival of a species so they can live to produce more offspring
• Species is a group of organisms that can breed together
• Continuous Variation is when different types of variation are distributed on a continuum
• Discontinuous Variation
• Normal distribution
• Habitat is the home for an animal
• Natural selection
• Causes of variation:

  • Inherited
  • Environmental
• Characteristics can be inherited, environmental, or a combination of both
• Characteristics of a species are adapted to a particular environment, like adapting to the climate by growing more fur in cold environments
• One species may adapt better than another to a change in the environment due to factors like hair, eye color, freckles, foot size, and blood type
• Variation helps a species in a changing environment by allowing individuals within a population to adapt to the changes
• Effects on a population of a change in the environment include a decrease in population when many animals die
• Mutations are genetic changes that happen in DNA and occur from mistakes when DNA is being copied
• For example, your DNA has about 175 mutations compared to your parents
• Sometimes mutations have no effect, while other times they can cause noticeable changes
• Key Points:

  • There is variation in all populations
  • All organisms want to survive
  • Those that are better adapted are more likely to survive
• Darwin's theory of evolution:

  • Charles Darwin proposed that evolution took place through natural selection
  • He developed this theory after noticing close similarities between certain fossils and modern-day animals during his voyage on the HMS Beagle
• Lamarck's theory of evolution:

  • Jean-Baptiste Lamarck believed that species evolved by inheriting traits acquired through the over or under-use of body parts
• Inheritance:

  • Gamete: a reproductive cell of an animal or plant
  • Trait: a specific characteristic of an individual
  • DNA carries a unique genetic code for every individual
  • Chromosome: carries information from cell to cell and is made of protein
  • Gene: the basic unit of heredity
  • Inherited Characteristics: traits inherited from parents like blood type or eye color
  • Fertilization: the process of combining female and male gametes