M5 Definitions

• Sexual Reproduction


  The process by which new organisms are created by combining genetic information from two individuals (of the same species) of different sexes
• Asexual Reproduction


  A mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single parent, not involving the fusion of gametes
• Fertilisation


  The fusion of two haploid gametes to produce a diploid zygote
• External Fertilisation


  A reproductive process in animals where the fertilisation of eggs occurs outside the female's body
• Internal Fertilisation


  Fertilization of an egg by sperm that occurs inside the body of a female
• Budding


  A form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism develops from an outgrowth or bud due to cell division
• Spores


  Protists and Fungi: Asexual (Mitospores) or sexual (Meiospores) reproductive structures that can develop into a new organism
• Binary Fission


  A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms where a cell divides into two equal parts
• Implantation


  The process by which a fertilised egg attaches to the wall of the uterus (Endometrium)
• Endometrium


  The inner wall of the uterus, where implantation occurs
• Hormonal Control of Pregnancy

  The regulation of pregnancy through various hormones, including estrogen and progesterone
• Mitosis


  A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus
• Meiosis


  A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the production of gametes
• DNA Replication


  The process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule
• Watson and Crick DNA Model

  The double helix structure of the DNA molecule, discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick
• Nucleotide Composition


  The sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that determines the genetic information of an organism
• Transcription


  The process of producing mRNA from DNA
• Translation


  The process in which mRNA is used to determine the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
• mRNA


  Messenger RNA, a type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome. It determines the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
• tRNA


  Transfer RNA, a type of RNA, carries an amino acid and an anti-codon. The anti-codon is paired with the corresponding mRNA codon in translation
• Polypeptide Synthesis


  The process of creating a polypeptide chain, which forms the basis for proteins
• Proteins


  The product of gene expression and can effect the phenotype. They are made up of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked together in long chains. Proteins play many critical roles in the body
• Crossing Over


  The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis
• Fertilisation


  The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote
• Mutations


  Changes in the DNA sequence that affect genetic information
• Genotype


  A genotype is the genetic constitution of an individual organism, representing the specific combination of alleles inherited from its parents
• Phenotype


  A phenotype is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment
• Alleles


  Alleles are different versions of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome
• Gene


  A gene is a unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring
• Pedigrees


  A chart that shows the presence or absence of a trait according to the relationships within a family
• SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism)


  A variation in a single nucleotide that occurs at a specific position in the genome
• DNA Sequencing


  Determining the precise order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule
• DNA Profiling


  The analysis of DNA from samples of body tissues or fluids to identify individuals
• VNTRS


  Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTRS) are a type of genetic variation where a short nucleotide sequence is organized as a tandem repeat, a sequence of nucleotides repeated one after another in a stretch of DNA. These repeats can vary in length among individuals, making VNTRs useful for genetic fingerprinting and population genetics studies
• Population Genetics


  The study of genetic differences within and between populations
• Conservation Management


  The practice of managing the natural environment and species to maintain genetic variation and biodiversity
• Human Evolution


  The genetic changes over time leading up to the appearance of anatomically modern humans