TOPIC 4 - C: Diversity and classification

Question 1

Define species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

What are the advantages of courtship behaviour?

Answer 2

Individuals can recognise sexually mature members of their own species of the opposite sex, synchronise mating, form a pair bond, and successfully breed

Question 3

Define classification

Answer 3

The process of arranging organisms into groups

Question 4

Name the 8 groups in the classification hierarchy from largest to smallest

Answer 4

• Domain
• Kingdom
• Phylum
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species

Question 5

What system is used to give species a universal name?

Answer 5

Binomial naming system

Question 6

What are the two components to a binomial name?

Answer 6

Generic name - the genus the organism belongs to
Specific name - the species the organism belongs to

Question 7

What is phylogenetic classification?

Answer 7

The process of arranging organism into groups based on their evolutionary origins and relationships

Question 8

How can we classify evolutionary relationships between organisms?

Answer 8

Analyse their molecular differences. Advances in immunology/ genome sequencing in provide clear pictures of how related two organisms are

Question 9

Explain hierarchical classification

Answer 9

• Groups within groups
• No overlap between groups

Question 10

What is biodiversity?

Answer 10

The variety of living organisms. It can be measured in terms of species diversity (number of species in a community), ecosystem diversity (range of different habitats) and genetic diversity

Question 11

Define community

Answer 11

All the different species that live in one area and interact with each other

Question 12

What impact does agriculture have on species diversity?

Answer 12

Decreases species richness
- farmland is typically used for only 1 species (monoculture)
- use of pesticides/ herbicides

Question 13

What impact does agriculture have on genetic diversity?

Answer 13

Decreases
- Farmers select for certain characteristics, which reduces number of different alleles in population

Question 14

How can biodiversity be increased in areas of agriculture?

Answer 14

• Use hedgerows instead of fences
• Grow different crops in the same area, or rotate around after a season
• Limit use of pesticides and herbicides

Question 15

Name four ways we can measure genetic diversity

Answer 15

• Frequency of observable characteristics
• Base sequence of DNA
• Base sequence of mRNA
• Amino acid sequence

Question 16

What is meant by gene technology?

Answer 16

Sampling DNA or mRNA in order to read and compare the base sequence of organisms. Alternatively the amino acid sequence can be studied as this will also provide information on the organisms mRNA and DNA sequences

Question 17

Why do scientists prefer to use gene technology instead of observation?

Answer 17

Simply inferring DNA differences by observing an organisms characteristics is not reliable: the characteristics could be coded by more than one gene, or could be influenced by the environment

Question 18

What is meant by interspecific and intraspecific variation?

Answer 18

Interspecific - differences between individuals of different species
Intraspecific - differences between individuals of the same species

Question 19

What is sampling?

Answer 19

Selecting a group of individuals to measure that will represent the whole target population

Question 20

How can a random sample be achieved?

Answer 20

Create a grid for sample area and randomly generate coordinates where a quadrat can be placed