genetic diversity and adaptation

• What is genetic diversity?

  number of different alleles of each gene
• What is ecosystem diversity?

  Refers to the range of different habitats, from a small local habitat to the whole of the earth
• How do we measure the species diversity?

  calculate index of diversity
• Techniques used to compare genetic diversity

  Comparing:

  • frequency of measurable or observable characteristics
  • base sequence of DNA
  • base sequence of mRNA
  • the amino acid sequence of proteins in an organism
• Disadvantages of comparing observable characteristics

  • many observable characteristics are coded by more than one gene (polygenic) so hard to distinguish specific genes
  • can also be impacted by environment and so may be a measure of environment conditions rather than alleles
• Types of adaptation

  -Anatomical,

  • physiological,
  • behavioural
• What is anatomical adaptation?

  Features an organisms body has that increase chance of survival e.g Webbed feet in beavers
• What is physiological adaption

  Are those that relate to how an organism functions and increase its chances of survival in its natural environment.
• What is behavioural adaptation

  Ways in which an organism acts that increases its chance of survival and reproduction. For example playing dead to escape attack.