Species and taxonomy

• What is the definition of species?

  A group of similar organisms which can breed to make Fertile offspring
• Importance of courtship rituals (1)

  To ensure successful reproduction : Rituals enables organisms to recognise potential mates of their own species and opposite sex. Also enables them to identify which of the opposite sex are ovulating or are sexually mature showing that they are ready to mate.
• Importance of courtship riturals (2)

  To ensure survival of a species : Courtship rituals enable species to identify healthy mating partners. This would allow them to then form a pair bond to be able to bring up their offspring.
• Define the term classification

  The process of arranging organisms into groups
• What system is used to give organisms universal names?

  The binomial naming system
• Name the groups in the classification hierarchy

  Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
• Name 2 types of classification

  Phylogenetic or natural classification and Artificial classification
• What three Domains make up the phylogenetic tree of life?

  Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya
• Talk about bacteria domain

  Unicellular, No membrane bound organelles , cell wall made up of murein , has 70 ribosomes , loop of naked DNA, no histones present
• Talk about Eukarya Domain

  Membrane bound organelles, Membrane has fatty acids with ester linkages , no murein , 80 ribosomes
• Talk about Archaea domain

  Single called prokaryote , membrane contains fatty acids with ether linkages , gene and protein synthesis similar to eukaryotes , no murein , complex rna polymerase
• Define phylogenetic or Natural classification

  Classifies species using shared features derived from their ancestors. Based on evolutionary relationships. Arranges groups into hierarchy, each group is called a taxon.
• State three comparisons of genetic diversity that the scientists used in order to generate classification Y

  Scientists compared the base sequence of DNA, Scientists compared the base sequence of RNA, Scientists compared the amino acid sequence.
• What are examples of Molecular bisases for classification

  Comparing Amino acids sequences of Protein , Comparing DNA base sequences, comparing Amino acids sequences of mRNA
• Define classification using amino acid sequences

  The amino acid sequences are determined by DNA. The similarity between amino acid sequence of the same protein in different species will also indicate how closely related they are.
• Define classification using DNA base sequences

  One a species evolves from another , the DNA is very similar. Mutations will occur which changes the base sequence of the new species. Overtime, the new species DNA will accumulate more differences from the original base sequence. Closely related species would have more of a similar DNA sequence.
• Define hybridisation 


  Gene varieties or different species combining to produce a hybrid
• What does hybridisation lead to?

  Hybridisation leads to an organisms with an extra chromosome (polyploid)
• How hybridisation works


  In hybridisation, the DNA strands of organisms are separated by heating and then both sets Of DNA from both organisms mix together combining with others that have a complementary base sequence. If two species are closely related, they will have more complementary base sequences.
• immunological comparison of protein (learn the process)

  Antibodies of one species will react to specific antigens in proteins within the blood serum of another.