Final
map distance (% recombination) =
# recombinant progeny / total progeny x 100
animals prevent of limit infection by:
(1) preventing pathogen entry (physical barriers) (2) mounting immune responses that destroy the invaders
action potentials
A rapid depolarization followed by repolarization that is propagated with fidelity along the axon of the nerve cell. These depend on voltage dependent changes in the gates of the ion channels, and result in long-distance signaling. In mammals,the threshold for an action potential is -55mV
alcohol inhibits
ADH production, contributing to dephydration
triploidy
(3n); three sets of chromosomes
most cell functions are limited to the range of
0 C to 45 C
total requency of all genotypes is
1
1 map unit =
1 % recombination = 1 centimorgan
differences in the end results (between mitosis and meiosis)
1) mitosis produces diploid cells whereas meiosis produces haploid cells 2) mitosis, not meiosis, produces genetically identical cells
how do cells begin to differentiate in the embryo?
1. cytoplasmic determinants 2. induction by nearby cells 3. cell determination
yeast mating
1. exchange of mating factors 2. mating 3. new a/A cell
what our genome is made up of
1.5% exons, 5% regulatory sequences, 20% introns, 15% unique noncoding DNA, 14% repetitive DNA unrelated to transposable elements, 44% repetitive DNA that includes transposable elements and related sequences
extracellular concentration Cl-
120 mM
Eion=
62 mV (log([ion]outside/[ion]inside))
the theory of plate tectonics
Earth's crust is composed of plates floating on Earth's mantle
Neurons that carry information into and out of the CNS form the
PNS
Ca2+
a 2nd messenger in both GPCR and RTK pathways; concentration in the cytosol is much lower than outside the cell or in the ER
polytomy
a branch from which more than two groups emerge
point mutation
a change in one base in a gene; in noncoding regions, generally result in neutral variation
cladogram
a diagram that only indicates relationships between species
karyotype
a display of the chromosome pairs of a cell, arranged by size and shape
a distribution of environments will be reflected biologically as
a distribution of phenotypes
the vas deferens joins
a duct from the seminal vesicle and becomes an ejaculatory duct prior to joining the urethra, which traverses the pensis
pedigree
a family tree that describes the interrelationships of parents and children across generations; can trace and describe inheritance patterns of particular traits
non-tropic hormone
a hormone that directly influences non-endocrine tissues
tropic hormone
a hormone that has an endocrine gland or endocrine cell as the target
if the receptor is a sensory neuron
a larger receptor potential results in more frequent action potentials
long term potentiation
a lasting increase in the strength of synaptic transmission
selection coefficient (s)
a measure of the relative intensity of selection against a given genotype
syndrome
a set of symptoms
allopolyploid
a species with multiple sets of chromosomes derived from a different species
fruit fly courtship
a stimulus-response chain, in which the response to each stimulus is the stimulus for the next behavior
"the morning after pill"
a type of progestin that prevents ovulation. it is unclear how it works
integration
The nervous system processes sensory input.
vagina
a muscular but elastic chamber where the male penis is inserted and sperm is deposited. it opens to the outside at the vulva
the relative fitness W of the most fit genotype in a population is
W=1
hybrid zone
a region in which members of different species mate and produce hybrids; can occur in a single band where adjacent species meet. for example, two species of toad in the genus Bombina interbreed in a long and narrow hybrid zone
S=
cA^z
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
caused by translocations of chromosomes
cleavage
cell division to produce the blastula
local signaling
cell junctions, cell-cell contacts, paracrine signaling, synaptic signaling
mutations
changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA; cause new genes and alleles to arise; a random change in nucleotide sequence of DNA
extinction can be caused by
changes to a species' environment
five mass extinctions
characterized by more than 75% of species loss in a very short time period- have punctuated the history of life, shaping biodiversity by elminating whole groups of organisms while fostering the subsequent diversification of others
earth is changing rapidly as a result of human actions
climate change; nutrient enrichment; toxins; ozone hole
homeobox genes
code for a domain that allows a protein to bind to DNa and to function as a transcription regulator
eustachian tube
connects to the pharynx and equalizes pressure between the middle ear and the atmosphere
conserving biodiversity
conservation of populations and species focuses on population size, genetic diversity, and critical habitat; also focused on sustaining biodiversity of entire communities, ecosystems, and landscapes
moto unit
consists of one motor neuron and the muscle fibers it controls
c
constant
cerebrum
controls skeletal muscle contraction and is the center for learning, emotion, memory and perception
plasmodesmata
cytoplasmic channels through cell walls that connect cells; allow the movement of cytoplasm between cells
if fertilization does not happen, the corpus luteum
degenerates, and a new follicle matures during the next cycle
breakage of a chromosome can lead to four types of changes in chromosome structure
deletion, duplication, inversion, translocation
logistic growth model assumptions
density-dependent factors affect population; populations adjust growth instantaneously and smoothly approach K; each individual added to the population has the same negative effect on its growth rate
the bipolar cells that transmit a signal in the presence of light
depolarize in the absense of glutamate
evolution
descent with modification or change in the genetic composition of a population from generation to generation
electromagnetic receptors
detect forms of electromagnetic energy, such as light, electricity, and magnetism. They are used in vision, to detect prey, to guide migratory patterns...
thermoreceptors
detect heat and cold. they are used for detecting prey, for thermoregulation...some are also activated by chemicals in our diet (capsaicin in hot peepers, and cooling menthol)
norm of reaction
determines the way in which the environmental distribution is transformed into the phenotypic distribution for a given genotype
diabetes mellitus
diabetes mellitus is caused by a deficiency of insulin (type 1) or a decreased response to insulin by target cells (type 2); type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the beta cells of the pancreas. usually appears during childhood, and eliminates the ability to produce insulin. treat by injecting insulin; type 2 diabetes is more common and manifests itself in persons with excess weight and lack of exercise. it generally appears after the age of 40. inflammation likely plays a role. treat by diet and exercise. 7th most common cause of death in the US
genetic variation among individuals is cased by
differences in genes or other DNA segments
what might predispose a species to drift?
different taxa vary greatly in terms of population size; larger organisms typically have smaller populations; microbes typically have large population size, small role for drfit
different types of cells arise as a result of
differential gene expression
systematics compare each ingroup species with the outgroup to
differentiate between shared derived and shared ancestral characteristics
lipid soluble hormones
diffuse out of the endocrine cell, bind transport proteins that keep them soluble in the blood, diffuse into the target cell, bind to receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus, and trigger changes in gene transcription
the movement of O2 and CO2 across respiratory surfaces takes place by
diffusion, from regions of high partial pressures to regions of low partial pressure
R is the
discrete growth factor
lambda =
e^r
antigen recognition by B cells and antibodies:
each B cell antigen receptor is Y-shaped, consists of two heavy chains and two light chains that are linked by disulfide bonds (bridges), and is anchored in the membrane. each heavy chain and each light chain have a constant (C) region which is similar between receptors. at the tips of the Y-shape, variable (V) regions form an asymmetric binding site for the antigen. there are two per receptor. all receptors within a cell are the same. There are 5 types of antibodies. IgG is most common. binding of a B cell receptor to an antigen activates the cell, leading to the formation of cells that secrete a soluble form of the receptor: the antibody (also known as immunoglobin). these receptors bind intact antigens on pathogens or in circulation. the amino acid sequences of the variable regions dictate the specificity. difference in these regions (in different cells) allow different B cells to recognize different epitopes.
NGSTs
each DNA template is sequenced directly
hemoglobin and gas exchange:
each hemoglobin molecule can bind four O2 molecules, via hemes. binding to one O2 molecule causes a conformational shift that assists in loading the others. release of one O2 molecule causes a conformational shift that assists in releasing the others. low pH (high CO2) decreases the affinity of hemoglobin to O2, inducing its release (Bohr shift)
trait
each variant for a character, such as purple or white color for flowers
the high rate of species extinction is largely a result of
ecosystem degradation by humans
embryonic germ layers
ectoderm (outer layer), mesoderm (forms between the ectodoerm and the endoderm), endoderm (lines the embryonic gut - Archenteron)
long distance signaling
endocrine signaling
Origin of Species
focused biologists' attention on the great diversity of organisms
lens
focuses; divides the aqueous and vitreous humors
organogenesis
formation of organs and tissues
the chromatids are sorted into
four haploid daughter cells
each spermatocyte gives rise to
four spermatids via meiosis
pus
a whitish fluid filled with white blood cells, dead pathogens, and debris. a minor injury or infection leads to localized inflammation. systemic inflammation results in additional release of WBC from the bone marrow. during certain infections, substances released by activated macrophages cause the body's thermostat to rest to a higher temperature: fever. an overwhelming systemic inflammatory response can lead to life-threatening septic shock (very high fever, low blood pressure, poor blood flow through capillaries). chronic inflammation is also disruptive: Chrohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
in sexual reproduction, haploid gametes fuse to form
a zygote
examples of cellular response pathways
activation of cellular response via a cell surface receptor (epinephrine via a GPCR); direct regulation of gene expression by a steroid hormone receptor (estradiol, which is a kind of estrogen)
motor output
activation of muscle, gland, etc
activation of complement system
activation of the complement cascade, thus forming membrane attack complexes
different cells have different mixes of
activators that turn on the expression of specific sets of genes
enteric division
active in the digestive tract, pancreas, and gallbladder
Darwin percieved ________ as closely related processes
adaptation to the environment and the origin of new species
indirect fitness
additional reproduction by relatives that is made possible by an individual's helpful actions
proximate causation
addresses "how" a behavior occurs or is modified, including Tinbergen's uestions 1 and 2
ultimate causation
addresses "why" a behavior occurs in the context of natural selection, including Tinbergen's questions 3 and 4
high reproduction
advantages of birth rate (e.g. if offspring have low survival, more is better)
high growth
advantages of body size (e.g. greater survival)
general rules about pedigrees for rare recessives:
affected people usually have two parents who are not affects; in affected families, about one fourth of the children of unaffected parents are affected; the phenotype usually occurs equally in both sexes
gastrulation (long)
after cleavage, the cell cycle is restored, and cell division slows; then, gastrulation begins, where a set of cells at or near the surface of the blastula moves to an interior location; this is a morphogenetic process; cell layers are established, and the three-layered embryo is called a gastrula. the cell layers are collectively called the embryonic germ layers
fever
an elevation in body temperature, can develop during certain bacterial or viral infections. fever may be beneficial because: some immune reactions speed up at higher temperature, soem pathogens may be maladapted to high temperatures
anterior pituitary
an endocrine gland that secretes hormones in response to hypothalamic hormones
polygamy
an individual of one sex mates with several individuals of the other sex
pathogen
an organism or virus that causes diease
heterozygous
an organism that has two different alleles for a gene
homozygous
an organism with two identical alleles for a character for a gene controlling that character
the chromosomal basis of sex
an organism's sex is an inherited phenotypic character determined by the presence or absence of certain chromosomes. the sex chromosomes have genes for many characters unrelated to sex.
exoskeletons
an outer body shell. msucles attach to this outer covering. in arthropods it is jointed and called the cuticle. in bivalves it is made of calcium carbonate.
stem cell
an unspecialized of relatively unspecialized cell that can replicate itself indefinitely, and can differentiate into specialized cells of one or more types
menopause
an unusual phenomenon. in most species, adults can reproduce throughout their life. during menopause, ovaries lost responsiveness to LH and FSH, thus reducing estradiol production
acute allergy can lead to
anaphylactic shock. epinephrine counteracts symptoms
homologous structures
anatomical resemblances that represent variations on a structural theme present in a common ancestor
cloning of mammals (CC)
another example of cloning of a mammal is CC (Carbon Copy), the first cloned cat; but in CC's case, the coat pattern and temperament were different from that of the mother's; historically, cloned animals have been more prone to health problems, probably due to epigenetic modification that affect gene expression patterns; methylation of DNA; acetylation of histones (reprogramming of donor nuclei requires accurate chromatin restructuring)
pupil
aperture
in development, programmed cell death via
apoptosis
density-dependent birth and death rates
are an example of negative feedback that regulates population growth
the basic model
area and distance to a migrant pool, by influencing immigration and extinction rates, determines the number of species on an island
A
area of the habitat
in the motor cortex (frontal lobe) and somatosensory cortex (parietal lobe), neurons are
arranged by the region of the body that they serve. the size of the region is proportional to the amount of activity needed
arterioles
arteries branch into
reproduction can be
asexual or sexual
two principle ways to not have random mating
assortative mating; small populations (these can result in inbreeding)
in birds/reptiles, divisions take place
at one end of the yolk
cell signaling occurs in unicellular organisms (examples)
bacterial fruiting body formation; yeast mating
assumptions of the model
birth and death rates are constant over time and resources are abundant; no age or size structure, and no differences in birth and death rates among individuals; population is closed; no emigration or immigration; no time lags (for continuous model); no genetic structure
density-independent populations
birth rate and death rate do not change with population density
phylogram
branch lengths are proportional to the amount of inferred evolutionary change since the last common ancestor
chronogram
branch lengths are proportional to time
afferent neurons
bring information to the CNS
endoskeleton
internal skeleton buried within soft tissues. in chordates, it is typically composed of cartilage and bone. ligaments hold bones together at a joint. tendons attach muscle to bone
terrestrial mammals fertilize eggs _________
internally
chromosomes duplicate during
interphase
carolus linnaeus (1707-1778)
interpreted organismal adaptations as evidence that the Creator had designed each species for a specific purpose; accepted that species are fixes; was the founder of taxonomy, the branch of biology concerned with classifying organisms; he developed the binomial format for naming species; in contrast to scala naturae, Linnaeus' system was not linear but nested
Linnaeus
introduced a system for grouping species in increasingly exclusive categories
autonomic nervous system
involuntary processes
dispersive mutualisms
involve animals that transport and disperse seeds in return of the nutritional value of fruits or other structures associated with seeds
example: bicoid (two-tailed) in drosophila melanogaster
maternal effect genes; bicoid sets the A/P axis; a larvae with mutated bicoid gene lacks an anterior end and instead has a posterior in both ends; bicoid sets up the anterior end of the body (it follows the morphogen gradient hypothesis, where gradients of substances called morphogens establish the axes and other features)
egg-polarity genes
maternal genes that control the orientation of the egg
maternal effect genes
maternal genes that encode cytoplasmic determinants
hormones secreted during puberty trigger....
maturation and the development of sexual characteristics
jasmonates
mediate plant defenses against insect herbivores; regulate a wide range of physiological processes
ethylene
mediates fruit ripening and the triple response
fertilization stimulates completion of
meiosis II, after which the egg and sperm (both haploid) fuse to produce the zygote (diploid)
PNS has two efferent components
motor system and ANS
auditory canal
sound waves travel through
sexual selection
natural selection for mating success; can result in sexual dimorphism
somatic cells
non-reproductive cells
how many human genes are under balancing selection
not that many protein-coding genes (<100). many are involved in immunology and some are associated with disease
primary succession
occurs where no soil exists when succession begins
cardiac cycle
one complete cycle
average mutation
one mutation in every 100,000 genes per generation
Alfred Sturtevant
one of morgan's students, constructed a genetic map, an ordered list of the genetic loci along a particular chromosome. sturtevant predicted that the father apart two genes are, the higher the probability that a crossover will occur between them, and therefore the higher the recombination frequency
X inactivation
one of the two X chromosomes in each cell is randomly inactivated during embryonic development
the diploid zygote contains
one set of chromosomes from each parents
menstruation (final notes)
only humans and some primates undergo menstruation. other animals have estrous cycles, where the uterus reabsorbs the endometrium
sympatric speciation
speciation takes place in geographically overlapping populations; can occur if gene flow is reduced by factors including habitat differentiation, polyploidy, and sexual selection
great chain of being or scala naturae
species are arranged on a ladder of increasing complexity
facilitation
species can have positive effects on the survival and reproduction of other species without necessarily living in the direct and intimate contact of a symbiosis
spatially partition
species can spatially partition their ecological niche
the testes produce _______ in ____________
sperm; highly coiled tubes called the seminiferous tubules
large-scale chromosomal alternations in humans and other mammals often lead to
spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) or cause a variety of developmental disorders
thick filaments
staggered arrays of myosin
rule of addition
states that the probability that any one of two or more exclusive events will occur is calculated by adding together their individual probability; can be used to figure out the probability than an F2 plant from a monohybrid cross will be heterozygous rather than homozygous
cytokinins
stimulate plant cell division; promote later bud growth; slow organ death
auxine
stimulates cell elongation; regulates branching and organ bending
immature eggs form in the ________ of the female embryo and undergo ___________
ovaries; developmental arrest
changes in allele frequency are proportional to
strength of selection
genomic information shows that minor differences in gene sequence or regulation can result in
striking differences in form
the oldest known fossils are
stromatolites, rocks are formed by the accumulation of sedimentary layers on bacterial mats; date back 3.5 billion years ago; prokaryotes were earth's sole inhabitants for more than 1.5 inhabitants for more than 1.5 billion years
exaptations
structures that evolve in one context but become co-opted for a different function
studying processes in one species can inform on the biology of seemingly disparate species (examples)
studies in the fruit fly informed on, among other things, the molecular basis of immunity in humans; studies in giant squid illuminated how nerve cells generate action potentials; studies on the marine slug, Aplysia, informed on how memories are formed and stored
natural selections increases and maintains the frequencies of alleles that enhance
survival and reproduction
species can also partition their ecological niches
temporally
it should not be assumed (taxons)
that a taxon evolved from the taxon next to it
neutrophils
phagocytic cells that circulate with the blood and are attracted by infected tissues
macrophages
phagocytic cells that migrate throughout the body (monocytes) or reside in organs (e.g. spleen)
dendritic cells
phagocytic cells that populate tissues that contact the environment (e.g. skin). they stimulate adaptive immunity
chloroplast
photosynthetic organelle; site of photosynthesis; located in the mesophyll cells of leaves
morphogenesis
physical processes take place that give an organism its shape, including the organized distribution of differentiated cells
choroid
pigmented layer
ecological succession order
pioneer stage, Dryas stage, alder stage, spruce stage
true breeding
plants that produce offspring of the same variety when they self-pollinate
abscisic acid
promotes stomatal closure in response to drought; promotes seed dormancy
the packaging of these macromolecules into
protocells (droplets with membranes that maintained a different internal chemistry)
ventricles
pump blood out of the heart
atria
receive blood entering the heart
in asexual reproduction, no
fusion of gametes occurs (the offsprings are usually clones)
plants tolerate ____________ better than animals do
genetic changes
sexual replication facilitiates
genetic variation, at a reproductive cost (hypothesis: aids in overcoming changes in environmental conditions)
threats of biodiversity
habitat loss and fragmentation; invasive species; overhavesting/poaching; global change
monosomic zygote
has only one copy of a particular chromosome
trisomic zygote
has three copies of a particular chromosome
homeotherms
have relatively constant body temperature
backflow causes
heart murmurs
single circulation
hearts with two chambers: an atrium and a ventricle. The blood passes through two capillary beds, which significantly reduces blood pressure
double circulation
hearts with two pumps. the first delivers blood to the oxygenating tissues. the second receives oxygenated blood and delivers it to the internal tissues
the blastocyst secretes
homan chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which maintains the corpus luteum
erthropoietin (EPO)
hormone that stimulates erthrocyte (RBC) production
strigolactones
regulate apical dominance, seed germination, and mycorrhizal associations
antidiuretic hormone (ADH or vasopressin)
regulates kidney function (increases water retention) and modulates behavior
oxytocin
regulates milk secretion by the mammary glands. it also triggers uterine contraction during birthing, and influences maternal behaviors
when closely related species meet in a hybrid zone, there are three possible outcomes
reinforcement, fusion, stability
innate immunity
relies on molecular recognition of pathogens using a small set of receptors that bind to molecules or structures that are absent from animal bodies but common to a group of viruses, bacteria, or other microbes. the internal defenses elicited are active against a broad range of pathogens. found in all animals
deletion
removes a chromosomal segment
iteroparity
repeated reproduction; produce offspring repeatedly
branch point
represents the divergence of two species
where reinforcement occurs,
reproductive barriers should be stronger for sympatric than allopatric species. for example, in populations of flycatchers, males are more similar in allopatric populations than sympatric popuations
stem cell practical applications
reproductive cloning, therapeutic cloning, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS)
external signals are converted into
responses inside the cell
sickle cell anemia
results from abnormal polymerization of hemoglobin in RBCs
male gonads and sex hormones
hypothalamus -> GnRH -> anterior pituitary -> FSH and LH -> testes -> testosterone -> reproductive processes and 2ry sexual characteristics
the coordinated actions of the ________, _______, and _______ govern reproduction
hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and gonads
phylogenies
hypotheses about gene/organism relationships that are constantly updated with new data
function of sex hormones
reuglate gametogensis, promote the appearance of primary sex characteristics, induce the formation of secondary sex characteristics (males: voice deepens, facial and pubic hair develop, muscle grows) (females: breast and pubic hair develop, fat is deposited in the breasts and hips, water is retained, etc)
the testes are in the ________ which is ____________
scrotum; 2 degrees cooler than the body
vestibular glands
secrete lubricating mucus that facilitate intercourse
natural selection and hardy-weinberg
selection can cause allele frequencies to change from generation to generation; selection can cause deviation from H-W genotype frequencies; selection is deterministic (predictable); selection can be a strong evolutionary force (compared to mutation)
efferent neurons
send out instructions from the CNS
there is a _______ cell and a _________ cell
sender; receiver
cloning of mammals (dolly)
in 1997, dolly was born. she was a lamb cloned from an adult sheep by nuclear transplantation from a differentiated cell; but, at 6 years old, dolly was arthritc and had to be euthanized because of a lung condition usually only seen in much older sheep
what hardy realized that other famous biologists of the day did not:
in a given population where gametes contribute to the next generation randomly, allele frequencies will not change
natural selection
increases the frequencies of allele that enhance survival and reproduction
vasodilation
increases the transfer of body heat to the environment through conduction, convection and radiation
how does genetic variation arise in sexual cycles?
independent assortment of chromosomes, crossing over, random fertilization
although natural selection occurs through interactions between individuals and their environment
individuals do not evolve. it is the population that evolves over time
black circles
individuals whose relatedness you are interested in
retina
innermost layer with photoreceptors
two general classes of secreted signal molecules
signal molecules that are unable to cross the plasma membrane and signal molecules that cross the plasma membrane
coordination of the endocrine and nervous systems (example)
insects molt in order to grow, and holometabolous insects undergo metamorphosis in order to reach sexual maturity; neurosecretory cells in the corpora cardiaca release PTTH. PTTH reaches the prothoracic gland, which in response releases ecdysteroid, inducing a molt; at the same time, JH is released by the corpora allata. When JH levels are high, ecdysteroid induces molting. But when JH levels are low, ecdysteroid induces metamorphosis
monogamy rare in
insects, fishes, reptiles, amphibians
Igf2
insulin growth factor 2. hormone that promotes fetal growth during pregnancy; is imprinted with expression deriving from the paternal allele
in a synapse prior to LTP
the NMDA glutamate receptor opens in response to glutamate but is blocked by Mg2+
adrenal hormones and stress
the adrenal medulla responds to short term stress (flight or fight) using two hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, that are secreted after nervous input from the hypothalamus; both are catecholamines synthetized from tyrosine, and function via GPCR's; the adrenal cortex responds to long term stress via mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids (corticosteroids) that are produced following stimulation by hypothalamic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
a life history entails three main variables
the age at which reproduction begins, how often the organism reproduces, and how many offspring are produced per reproductive episode
the production of mature gametes ceases at around
the age of 50
differentiation and organogenesis: the chick wing
the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) and zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) are regions that are important for proper win development; implanting another ZPA induces the development of two posterior structures; this is due to a ZPA- produced protein signal, called Sonic hedgehog
whether to model population growth with the continuous or discrete models depends on
the biology of the organism; if it has overlapping generations, we must use the continuous model
zero population growth (ZPG) occurs when
the birth rate equals the date rate (r=0); populations grow when r>0, shrink when r<0
deuterostomes
the blastopore becomes the anus
imprinting
the establishment of a long-lasting behavioral response to a particular individual or object. imprinting only takes place during a specific period of development, called the sensitive period. in some birds, imprinting can take place only during the first two days after birth, and bonding is usually via visual cues. imprinting between the parent and the offspring forms a bond that facilitates the learning of basic behaviors
spatial learning
the establishment of a memory that reflects the environment's spatial structure
evapotranspiration
the evaporation of water from soil and plants
macroevolution
the evolutionary processes that occur slowly, where the hisotry of life is written both in the fossil record and in the relationships of living species
macroevolution
the evolutionary processes that occur slowly, where the history of life is written both in the fossil record and in the relationships of living species
trophic structure
the feeding relationships between organisms in a community - key for community structure
lambda is
the finite rate of increase
mitosis during and after cleavage
the first few cell division are cleavage events, where little or no protein synthesis takes place and there is no increase in mass; only S phase (DNA synthesis) and M phase (mitosis) takes place; at the beginning, the little amount of DNA in the egg (one nucleus) is not sufficient to produce the mRNA and proteins needed to cellular processes. thus, the embryo relies on maternal RNA and proteins
thermogenesis
the generation of heat. it is increased by muscle activity such as moving or shivering. can also occur by the of burning brown fat, which is rich in mitochondria (non-shivering thermogenesis)
STR- and TR-containing genes are directly involved in
the generation of phenotypic variation
the hardy-weinberg theorem
the hardy-weinberg theorem describes a population that is not evolving. it states that frequencies of alleles and genotypes in a population's gene pool remain constant from generation to generation, provided that only Mendelian segregation and recombination of alleles are at work. Mendelian inheritance preserves genetic variation in a population. this theorem establishes the genotype frequencies we would expect in a population that would be produced by pure chance, given known allele frequencies.
F1 generation
the hybrid offspring of the P generation
egg activation and cleavage
the influx of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm also activates the egg. The nuclei fuse and cell division begins; the first few cell division are cleavage events, where little or no protein synthesis takes place and there is no increase in mass; these smaller cells are called blastomeres, and form a blastula that surrounds a fluid filled cavity known as the blastocoel
the size of a receptor potential increases with
the intensity of the stimulus
the phanerozoic eon includes
the last half billion years and is divided into three eras: the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic
adaptive evolution occurs as
the match between an organism and its environment increases
speciation
the origin of new species, is at the key point where microevolution and macroevolution intersect
the female reproductive cycle involves the coordination of two organs
the ovaries and the uterus
evaporative cooling
the removal of heat from the surface of a liquid that is losing some of its molecules as gas. bathing, sweating, panting
mass extinction
the result of disruptive global environmental changes
hybrids
the result of mating between species with incomplete reproductive barriers; often have reduced fitness compared with parent species
specificity of cell signaling:
the same signal can induce different responses in different cells; this occurs because different types of cells have different collections of proteins, which lead to different cellular events (ex. epinephrine stimulates liver cells to break down glycogen. stimulates heart cells to contract more rapidly)
species richness
the total number of different species in the community
two important assumptions about phylogenetic characters
they are homologous and they are evolving independently from each other
characteristics that make fruit flies a convenient organism for genetic studies:
they breed at a high rate. a generation can be bred every two weeks. they have only four pairs of chromosomes.
pressure waves dissiplate when
they strike the round window, preventing reverberation
thyroid regulation: a hormone cascade pathway
thyroid hormone (T3 and T4, with the number of iodines) stimulate metabolism: blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tone, digestive and reproductive processes; hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulates release of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the anterior pituitary, which stimulates the thyroid to release thyroid hormone
cornea
transparent layer that assists in focusing
spemann's organizer
transplanted the dorsal lip to the other side of another embryo induces gastrulation on that side as well
at the most basic level, all living organisms rely on the same
underlying mechanisms to survive, adapt, grow, and reproduce
quantitative variation
usually indicates polygenic inheritance
trophic mutualisms
usually involve partners specialized for obtaining energy nutrients
pollination mutualisms
usually pollen dispersal in exchange for nutrients
the ovaries flank the
uterus
changes in DNA arise via mutation but within a population...
variation, diversity, and resemblance are due in large part to meiosis followed by fertilization
veins
venules converge into
the only information in a phylogeny is on the
vertical axis. there is no information on the horizontal axis
lateral inhibition
when a photoreceptor is activated, horizontal cells inhibit distant photoreceptors and bipolar cells that are not illuminated this sharpens edges and gives you contrast. this is repeated by amacrine cells, at the level of the ganglion cells
reinforcement
when hybrids are less fit than parent species, reinforcement of reproductive barriers may occur through strong selection for prezygotic barriers. over time, the rate of hybridization decreases
symbiosis
when individuals of two or more species live in direct and intimate contact with one another; interactions among symbionts could be helpful, harmful, or neutral
in a log-log plot of S versus A
z is the slope of the line through the data points
species known to science
~2.3 million
the sliding-filament model of muscle contraction steps
(1) myosin head is bound to ATP and is in its low-energy configuration (2) the myosin head hydrolyses ATP to ADP and P, switching to a high-energy configuration (3) the myosin head binds to actin, forming a cross-bridge. (4) releasing ADP and Pi, mysoin returns to tits low-energy configuration while sliding the thin filament toward the middle of the sarcomere (5) binding of a new molecule of ATP releases the myosin head from actin, and a new cycle begins
tetraploidy
(4n); four sets of chromosomes
survivorship curve
(age against log survivorship); a graphic way of representing the data in a life table
the geologic record is divided into the
Hadean, Archaean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic eons
ovarian cycle (8)
LH stimulates the follicular tissue left behind to transform into a corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone and estradiol, which inhibits release of GnRH. this brings levels of LH and FSG to very low levels
(male) LH causes
Leydig cells in the connective tissue between the tubules to produce testosterone, which promotes spermatogenesis
neuron
The basic unit of the nervous system is the neuron. Neurons use pulses of electrical current to receive, transmit and regulate the flow of information over long distances within the body. In transferring information from one cell to another, neurons often rely on chemical signals that act over very short distances. Interpreting nerve impulses involves sorting paths and connections. In more complex animals this is carried out by groups of neurons organized into a brain or ganglia.
Capillary sequencing
all DNA templates are sequenced together to create a single consensus sequence
animal and plant responses:
at the levels of signal transduction and reception, animals and plant cells are quite similar. at the organismal level, the responses are very different; animals commonly respond by movement; plants respond by altering growth and development, and by adjusting to changes in time and seasons
protostomes
blastopore becomes the mouth
the genes of diverse organisms are
chemically identical
crossover points are visible as
chiasmata (singular: chiasma)
sclera
connective tissue
some populations increase or decrease each year by a
constant proportion (discrete growth - they do not have overlapping generations)
behavioral isolation
courtship rituals and other behaviors unique to a species are effective barriers to mating
reproductive cloning
create a clone, widely used in agriculture, has been used in animals
Mendel's experiment
crossed parents that differed in an obvious character; one parent's character had disappeared; the character reappeared in the next generation
the population growth equation can be revised
deltaN/deltat = bN-mN or deltaN/deltat = (b-m)N
r-selection
density-independent selection; selects for life history traits that maximize reproduction
species scale
different kinds of organism and size is relative to amount
different sites/characters may be evolving at
different rates
Mendel's work on pea plants provided evidence of
discrete heritable units (genes)
short tandem repeats
duplications of simple sets of DNA bases such as A, CA, CGG, etc
feedback regulation: simple endocrine pathway
endocrine cells respond directly to a stimulus by secreting a particular hormone; hormone travels via the bloodstream to the target cell, interacts with a receptor, and triggers a physiological response
adrenal medulla
epinephrine and norepinephrine: raise blood glucose level, increase metabolic activities, and contrict certain blood vessels
repeat-containing genes may act as
evolutionary "tuning knobs"
shared derived characters
evolutionary novelties unique to a particular clade
disruptive
favors individuals at both extremes of the phenotypic range
fusion of the nuclei of the sperm and the 2ry oocyte results in
fertilization (the polar bodies are discarded)
phenotype =
genotype x environment
hormonal regulation of growth
growth hormone (GH) is released by the anterior pituitary and stimulates growth via both trpoic and non-tropic effects (ex: the liver responds to GH by releasing insulin-like growth factors that sitmulate bone and cartilage growth)
female gonads and sex hormones
hypothalamus -> GnRH -> anterior pituitary -> FSH and LH -> ovaries -> estradiol
morphogenesis
in animals requires the movement of cells and the changing of cell shape; during neurulation, for example, changes in the organization of microtubules and apical actin allow the formation of the neural tube; similar cytoskeletal changes allow convergent extension, for example, as occurs for the formation of the archenteron of sea urchins; in animals, also requires cell migration; transmembrane glycoproteins called cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) promote the interaction between cells; cell migration via amoeboid-like movement also involves the extracellular matrix (ECM): the meshwork of secreted glycoproteins and other molecule that lie outside of the plasma membrane; specific components in the ECM guide specific cells
rooted tree
includes a branch to represent the last common ancestor of all taxa in the tree
dependable environments favor
iteroparity
populations shrink when
lambda < 1
the joining of these smaller molecules into
macromolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids
Nearly a third of all metabolic energy expended by the human body is used to
maintain electrical imbalances between the inside and outside of the membranes of excitable cells.
x-linked recessive disorders are much more common in
males than in females
new genes and alleles can arise by
mutation or gene duplication
endocrine glands
often ductless organs and secrete hormones directly into the surrounding fluid
metaphase I
pairs of homologous chromosomes attach to metaphase plate
iris
part of the choroid that regulates pupil size
postzygotic barriers
prevent the hybrid zygote from developing into a viable, fertile adult
"the abortion pill"
prevents the activation of the progesterone receptor of endometrial cells, and thus, this stimulates menstruation
Vm
primarily determined by the membrane's permeability to K+
frequency of aa offspring is
q^2
inversion
reverses orientation of a segment within a chromosome
water soluble hormones
secreted by exocytosis, travel in the blood, bind to cell surface receptors on target cells, and induce changes to cytoplasmic molecules and sometimes alter gene transcription
muscle
sensory inputs to the nervous system result in specific behaviors, some of which are driven by nervous system motor output. Thus, these behaviors require muscle activity. Muscle contraction relies on the interaction between thin and thick filaments. muscle contraction results from filament movement powered by chemical energy. muscle contraction is active whereas muscle extension is passive
r =
sum of (0.5)^L
land plants enable the survival of all other life forms that live on land by
supplying oxygen, supplying most food eaten by terrestrial animals, creating habitats by stabilizing the soil, etc
hCG
the basis for pregnancy tests
telophase I and cytokinesis
the cytoplasm divides and the cleavage furrow forms
in vertebrates, coordination of endocrine signaling relies heavily on
the hypothalamus
secondary immune response
the immune repsonse during a subsequent exposure to the same antigen. peaks 2-7 days after exposure. this is because of the clonal expansion of memory cells. (basis for vaccination)
egg activation and cleavage
the influx of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm also activates the egg, and the nuclei of the gametes fuse and cell division begins; the first few cell divisions are cleave events, where little or no protein synthesis takes place and there is no increase in mass; these smaller calls are called blastomeres, and form a blastula that surrounds a fluid filled cavity known as the blastocoel; cleavage furrows form when divisions begins. the manner in which the furrows form affects the size of the blastomeres
innate immunity in invertebrates: insects as an example
the insect exoskeleton is the first line of defense. insects use pattern recognition receptors to specifically recognize marcromolecules that are characteristic of a broad class of pathogen. once recognized in the hemocoel, immune cells called hemocytes kill pathogens via phagocytosis and other mechanisms. hemocytes and other cells also release antimicrobial peptides that disrupt the plasma membrane microbes (lysis). different types of pathogens elicit different types of immune responses
lateralization (for cognition)
the left side is more adept to language, math and logical operations. the right side is more adept to recognize faces and patterns, spatial relations, and non-verbal thinking
lateralization (for motor and sensory functions)
the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body
the energetic hypothesis
the length of the food chain is limited by the inefficiency of energy transfer along the chain; only ~10% of the energy stored in the organic matter at one trophic level is converted to organic matter at the next trophic level
for any character, dominance/recessiveness relationships of alleles depend on
the level at which we examine the phenotype
inbreeding depression
the loss of fitness (the ability to make babies that make more babies) that takes place when homozygosity is increased for deleterious alleles
mating systems
the mating relationships between males and females
pleiotropy
the property that genes have multiple phenotypic effects
because gas exchange is via diffusion, this limits
the size of the organism
specific receptors (chemo)
transmit information about specific molecules (glucose, oxygen, CO2, amino acids, volatiles, pheromone)
cell-cell contacts
two cells in an animal may communicate via the interaction of molecules protruding from their surfaces
Mendel used the scientific approach to identify
two laws of inheritance
Mendel chose to track only those characters that
varied in an "either or" manner
change in allele frequency due to gene flow
within a population, it can introduce or reintroduce alleles, increasing its genetic variation; by moving genes around, it can make distant populations genetically similar to one another, hence reducing the chance of divergence; gene flow has resulted in the introduction of a new allele and 15-20% change in allele frequency in the last 300 years
within a species, genetics influences innate behavior:
within a species there is a significant amount of genetic diversity. this diversity can impact innate behavior. in this example, blackcap warbles were collected in two regions of Europe where the birds migrate in different directions. The young of the British blackcaps and the young from the German blackcaps were raised under similar conditions but showed different migratory orientations
Why is there variation? how is variation inherited?
"fleeming Jenkin has given me much trouble but has been of more real use than any other essay or review" - letter of Darwin to J.D. Hooker, 1869. in response, Darwin proposed the pangenesis hypothesis, in which hereditary substances called gemules or pangenes are shed by all parts of the organism and carried in the bloodstream
four concepts for mendel's model
#1 genetic information is particulate, does not blend #2 for each character an organism inherits, one from each parent #3 dominance and recessiveness #4 the law of segregation
regulation of skeletal muscle contraction steps
(1) acetylcholine is released at the synapse by a motor neuron and triggers an action potential on the muscle fiber (2) the action potential propagates along the plasma membrane and T tubules (3) this triggers the release of Ca2+ from teh sarcoplasmic reticulum (4) Ca2+ binds to troponin, exposing the myosin-binding sites (5) cycles of myosin cross-bridge formation, coupled with ATP hydrolysis, slide thin filaments toward the center of the sarcomere (6) when action potentials end, Ca2+ is moved back to the sarcoplasmic reticulum by active transport (7) tropomyosin blocks myosin-binding sites, and the muscle fiber relaxes
hyperthyroidism
(excessive thyroid hormone) can lead to high body temperature, sweating, weight loss, irritability, and high blood pressure
oviduct
(fallopian tube) extends from the uterus to a funnel-like opening at each ovary
hypertension
(high blood pressure); damages blood vessels and contributes to heart attack and stroke
industrial melanism
(in the peppered moth) - classic study in the development of the theory of natural selection and evolution
heart attack
(myocardial infarction); the damage or death of cardiac muscle from blockage of one of more coronary arteries (these supply O2 to the heart)
during the most drastic extinction event
(the Permian-Triassic extinction), 80-96% of global biodiversity was lost
Patau syndrome
(trisomy 13); 1:5,000. serious eye, brain, circulatory defects as well as cleft palate. children rarely live more than a few months.
Edward's syndrome
(trisomy 18); 1:10,000. almost every organ system affect. children generally do not live more than a few months
down syndrome
(trisomy 21); an aneuploid condition that results from three copies of chromosome 21. it affects about one out of every 700 children born in the US. only viable autosomal trisomy. the expression of many genes is higher on trisomy chromosome 21 relative to normal; no mechanisms for autosomal inactivation. the frequency of Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother, a correlation that has yet to be explained
H =
-(pAlnpA + pBlnpB + pClnpC) where A,B, C are the species, p is the relative abundance of each species)
For a resting neuron (one not sending a signal), the resting potential is between
-60 and -80 mV.
three events unique to meiosis
1) crossing over in prophase I 2) homologous chromosomes pair at the metaphase plate (metaphase I) 3) separation of homologs (anaphase I)
at birth, the ovaries contain
1-2 million primary oocytes, of which about 500 fully mature between puberty and menopause
the time between when sperm contacts the membrane and depolarization is______ and this depolarization lasts about _____
1-3 seconds; 1 minute
s =
1-W
The resting potential (unequal distribution of charge) is a result of two factors:
1. ATP-dependent ion pumps create concentration gradients across the plasma membrane. 2. The plasma membrane, because of ion channels, is more permeable to potassium than it is to sodium or chloride.
The resting potential (unequal distribution of charge) is a result of two factors: (revisited)
1. ATP-dependent sodium potassium pumps maintain the Na+:K+ chemical gradient across the membrane. 2. Potassium channels allow the free movement of K+ across the membrane, thus creating the resting potential.
ion channel receptors:
1. gate is closed 2. ligand binds to the receptor and the gate opens. specific ions flow through the channel, inducing a cellular response 3. the ligand dissociates from the receptor, the gate closes, and ions no longer enter the cell
G-protein coupled receptors
1. inactive GPCR (no ligand) and inactive G protein (GDP is attached) 2. ligand binds GPCR activating it via a conformational change. GPCR binds a G protein causing the GDP in the A subunits to be displaced by GTP, and thus activating the G protein 3. the activated A subunit of the G protein dissociates from the B and Y subunits and diffuses along the plasma membrane until it binds to a specific enzyme. the enzyme changes conformation and becomes active, leading to a cellular response 4. the A subunit of the G protein hydrolyzes GTP to GDP, inactivating both itself and the enzyme. the A subunit of the G protein re-associates with the B and Y subunits, and the process is free to start again
bacterial fruiting body formation
1. individual rod-shaped cells 2. aggregation in progress 3. spore-forming structure (fruiting body)
evolution by natural selection - Darwin's postulates
1. individuals vary 2. at least some variation is heritable 3. some individuals leave more progeny than others 4. the variation in survival and reproduction is not random, but depends on heritable trait variation outcome: (genetic) variants with higher survival and/or reproduction increase n frequency in population
short-term stress response and the adrenal medulla
1. the hypothalamus activates the adrenal medulla via nerve impulses 2. the adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, which act on target cells via GPCRs
long-term stress response and the adrenal cortex
1. the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin releasing hormone, which induces the anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 2. the adrenal cortex recieves ACTH and secretes corticosteroids, which act on target cells via intracellular receptors
meiosis was discovers in
1875-1885
in ____________, August Weismann
1883; germ plasm theory separates germ cells from somatic cells and claims that only the first are involved in inheritance
by ____, the concept of nucleus as the basis for heredity is
1885; well established. Theodor Boveri is the first to propose that chromosomes are the physical basis of inheritance
frequency of Aa offspring is
2pq
skin color
3 loci, with alleles additively controlling the amount of melanin (darkness)
the egg's journey from the ovary to the uterus takes
3-4 days
what is the probability of getting at least 2 recessive traits in a cross PpYyRr x Ppyyrr?
3/8
tetrapods evolved from lobe-finned fishes around
365 MYA
earth formed about
4.6 billion years ago, along with the rest of the solar system
vascular tissue in plants appeared by about
420 MYA
extracellular concentration K+
5 mM
_______ of recombination is observed for any two genes on different chromosomes
50%
frequency of heterozygotes never exceeds
50%
the maximum frequency of observed recombinants between two genes is
50%
_____ of all mammals are monogamous
< 10%
axon
A neuron has a single axon, which transmits signals to other cells. Axons are longer than dendrites. The axon hillock is where signals that travel down the axon are generated. Each branched end of an axon transmits information to another cell at a junction called a synapse. These branches are called synaptic terminals. At synapses, chemical messengers called neurotransmitters pass information from the transmitting neuron (presynaptic cell) to the receiving cell (post-synaptic cell).
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
AR locus, normal (CAG)9-37, repeat sequence mutated (CAG)38-62
light reactions produce
ATP, NADPH, and O2
major NTs
Ach is involved in muscle stimulation, memory formation, and learning. at the neuromuscular junction, it binds an ionotropic receptor and induces skeletal muscle contraction. it is degraded by Ach. in cardiac muscle, it binds a metabotropic receptor and reduces the heart rate. glutamate is involved in teh formation of long-term memory. dopamine and serotonin affect sleep, mood, attention, and learning. nitric oxide relaxes smooth muscle
births and deaths can be expressed as the average number of births and deaths per individual during the specified time interval
B= bN D= mN
Neurons communicate with each other at synapses:
Between cells, information is transmitted at synaptic terminals. Electrical synapses are composed of gap junctions that allow electrical current to flow from one neuron to another. These mediate rapid, unvarying behaviors like escape. Chemical synapses, which are more common, involve the release of chemical neurotransmitters by the presynaptic neuron and their reception by the post-synaptic cell.
Neurons that carry out integration are organized in the
CNS
parathyroid and thyroid regulation of blood calcium
Ca2+ levels msut be carefully regulated. if Ca2+ levels are too low, muscles contract convulsively. if too high, calcium phosphate causes organ damage; when Ca2+ levels fall too low, the parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH raises blood Ca2+ levels via direct and indirect effects; when levels are too high, thyroid-produced calcitonin inhibits hone breakdown and enhances Ca2+ excretion by the kidneys
dentatoribral-pallidoluysian atrophy
DRLA locus, normal (CAG)6-35, repeat sequence mutated (CAG)49-88
direct observation
Darwin's finches (beak size varied based on diet), mantids (coloring varied based on environment), artificial selection (using wild mustard to create kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and kohlrabi), invasion event (soapberry bug has shorter beak in areas where goldenrain tree is more popular than balloon vine)
fragile X syndrome
FRM1 locus, normal (CGG)6-53, repeated sequence mutated (CGG)60-over 230
sensory input
For example, sensing the external environment (e.g., light) or sensing internal conditions (e.g., blood pressure)
three main types of cell surface receptor proteins
G protein-coupled receptors, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ion channel receptors
ovarian cycle (2)
GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH
Huntington's Disease
HD locus, normal (CAG)6-35, repeat sequence mutated (CAG)36-121
types of Abs
IgA, IgD, IgG, IgM
the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis was said to account for
Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment
neurotransmitters
NT can often bind to multiple receptors, exerting very different effects. receptor activation ceases when NTs are cleared from the synaptic cleft. the stoppage of the signal can occur by: enzymatic hydrolysis of the NT, recapture by the presynaptic neuron, simple diffusion
Nt+1 =
Nt + RNt or (1+R)Nt
lambda =
Nt+1/Nt
(male) FSH causes
Sertoli cells in seminiferous tubules to nourish the developing sperm
graded potentials
Small changes in membrane potential that can either depolarize or hyperpolarize. By themselves, they propagate a few millimeters before dying out.
Chemical synapses: Generation of post-synaptic action potentials.
The arrival of an action potential to the synaptic terminal (1) depolarizes the plasma membrane, opening voltage-gated ion channel that allow Ca2+ into the cell (2) Elevated Ca2+ causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the plasma membrane, releasing a neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft (<50 nm) (3) Neurotransmitter binds to ligand-gated ion channels in the post-synaptic membrane, which in this example allow Na+ and K+ to flow through (4) At many chemical synapses, the receptor that binds and responds to the neurotransmitter is a ligand-gated ion channel, also known as an ionotropic receptor. Binding results in a graded potential called a postsynaptic potential. When the channel is permeable to both K+ and Na+, it depolarizes: excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP). When the channel is permeable to only K+ or Cl-, it hyperpolarizes: inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP).
Ion pumps and ion channels establish the resting potential of a neuron
The inside of a cell is negatively charged relative to the outside of the cell. The attraction of opposite charges across the plasma membrane is a source of potential energy, and this charge difference, or voltage, is called the membrane potential. For a resting neuron (one not sending a signal), the resting potential is between -60 and -80 mV. Input from other neurons or a specific stimulus causes changes in the neuron's membrane potential, and this acts as a signal that transmits information.
the first solid evidence associating a specific gene with a specific chromosome came from
Thomas Hunt Morgan, an embryologist (experiments with fruit flies provided convincing evidence that chromosomes are the location of Mendel's heritable factors)
The preservation of genetic variation
Udny Yule - how could Mendelism work - shouldn't all population be composed of dominant alleles over time? Why don't recessive alleles disappear (especially if they are bad for you?) If they don't disappear, then why not? How is variation maintained?
dopamine
a NT that is essential for proper brain function; both schizophrenia (overactive) and Parkinson's disease (death of neurons that normally release DA) result from improper dopamine signaling
antigen recognition by T cells:
a T cell receptor is composed of an a chain and B chain, linked by a disulfide bond. the constant (C) region anchor the receptor to the membrane. the variable (V) regions of the a and B chains form the antigen binding site. These receptors bind epitopes that are being presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of host cells. host cells enzymatically cleave antigens in the cytoplasm, load them on MHC molecules, and display them on their surface (antigen presentation)
blood clotting
a break in a blood vessel exposes proteins that attract platelets and initiate coagulation: the conversion of liquid components of blood into a solid clot. platelets release clotting factors that leads to the formation of thrombin, which converts plasma fibrinogen to fibrin
senescence
a burst of ethylene is associated with the apoptosis of cells during senescence
microevolution
a change in allele frequencies in a population over generations
animal hormone
a chemical signal that is secreted into the circulatory system and communicates regulatory messages within the body (types include small peptides, proteins, glycoproteins, steroids, and amines)
circulatory systems:
a circulatory system is composed of circulatory fluid, interconnecting vessels, and a heart. the main driver of circulation is the muscular heart. the heart drives circulation by elevating the circulatory fluid's hydrostatic pressure, powering it to flow through the vessels and back to the heart
the duffy antigen
a classical blood polymorphism with three main alleles (FYA, FYB, and FY*BES) - historically these alleles were population-specific
thrombus
a clot formed in the absence of injury
polyploidy
a condition in which an organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes
blood
a connective tissue composed of cells suspended in a fluid matrix called plasma
type II
a constant death rate over the organism's life span; some parental care, more offspring, smaller body size
continental drift has many effects on living organisms
a continent's climate can change as it moves north or south; separation of land masses can lead to allopatric speciation
for a recessive X-linked trait to be expressed
a female needs two copies of the allele (homozygous); a male needs only one copy of the allele (hemizygous)
But the resting potential is between -60 and -80 mV and not -90mV. This is because
a few Na+ ions leak across the membrane. Neither K+ or Na+ is at true equilibrium potential, but Vm is much closer to EK
polyandry
a form of polygamy where one female mates with many males; females are often more showy than the males; better for females = many male parents
polygyny
a form of polygamy where one male mates with many females; males are usually more showy and larger than the females; better for males = many mates
all other genotypes are scaled as
a fraction of the fitness of the most fit genotype
The Hardy-Weinberg Theorem
a fundamental principle in population genetics stating that the genotype frequencies and gene frequencies of large, randomly mating population remain constant provided immigration, mutation, and selection do not take place
epistasis
a gene at one locus alters the phenotypic expression of a gene at a second locus.
master regulators
a gene at the top of a gene regulation hierarchy; for example, the master regulator MyoD drives the differentiation of muscle cells
sex-linked gene
a gene located on either sex chromosome; follow specific patterns of inheritance
SRY
a gene on the Y chromosome that is responsible for development of the testes in an embryo (sex-determining region on the Y)
linkage map
a genetic map of a chromosome based on recombination frequencies
cohort
a group of individuals from birth to death
population
a group of individuals of a single species living in the same general area
just as a population increases in size when births > deaths,
a group of organisms increases when more new species are produced through speciation than are lost to extinction
character
a heritable feature that varies among individuals (such as flower color)
if the receptor is not a sensory neuron
a larger receptor potential usually causes more NT to be released
population
a localized group of individuals capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
callus
a mass of dividing, undifferentiated cells formed at the cut end of the shoot
recombination frequency
a measure of the distance between genes; the higher the frequency of recombination between two genes, the more distant the genes are from each other
neuroendocrine signaling
a nerve cell releases or induces the release of neurohormones that diffuse into the bloodstream and trigger responses in target cells elsewhere in the body (epinephrine, oxytocin, etc)
hypothalamus
a neurosecretory gland located in the brain; it recieves information from nerves throughout the body, and then initiates endocrine signaling appropriate for those conditions (ex. it controls the release of reproductive hormones); signals from the hypothalamus travel to the pituitary, which is located at its base
when a new colony is started by a few members of the original population, the small population size of the colony means that it may have
a non-random sample of the genes present in the original population, reduced genetic variation from the original population
planarians detect light via
a pair of ocelli. Comparing the rate of action potentials coming from the two ocelli allows the planaria to move toward shade
torpor
a physiological state of decreased activity and metabolism, enables animals to save energy. more common in smaller animals, and is most often accompanied by a significant drop in body temperature
natural selection
a process in which individuals with favorable inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
migration
a regular, long-distance change in location. during migration, many animals pass through environments they have never encountered before. environmental cues guide migration. some animals track their position relative to the sun or the North Star, adjusted by their circadian clock. time-compensated sun compass. some animals track their position relative to the earth's magnetic field. yearly cycles follow a circannual rhythm. these are influenced by the periods of daylight and darkness in the environment
autocrine signaling
a secreted molecule diffuses locally and triggers a response in the cell that secretes it
paracrine signaling
a secreting cell acts on nearby target cells by secreting molecules of a local regulator (growth factors, nitric oxide, etc.)
fixed action pattern
a sequence of unlearned acts that is directly linked to a simple stimulus, called a sign stimulus (example: stickleback fish attacking anything with a red underside); this behavior is unlearned and genetically fixed, and is known as innate behavior (other examples of innate behavior are migration, the courtship-stimulus responses chain, and pheromone signaling)
example of behavior
a single master regulatory gene can control many behaviors. one transcription factor, fruitless (fru), controls many behaviors of the male fruit fly courtship ritual. mutant males don't court. there are male and female splice variants; male splice variants in females can cause sex roles reversal (as does female splice variants in males
outgroup
a species or group of species that is closely related to the ingroup; a groups that has diverged before the ingroup
each genes resides at
a specific locus on a specific chromosome
bottleneck effect
a sudden change in the environment that may drastically reduce the size of a population; the resulting gene pool may no longer be reflective of the original population's gene pool
culture
a system of information transfer through social learning or teaching that influences the behavior of individuals in a population
taxon
a taxonomic unit at any level of hierarchy
the prostate gland produces
a thin, milky fluid: anticoagulant enzymes and citrate (nutrient)
phagocytosis
a type of endocytosis in which large particulate substances or small organisms are taken up a cell. it is carried out by some protists and by certain immune cells of animals. in insects, these cells are the hemocytes. in mammals, these cells are mainly the macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells
monophyletic
a valid clade signifying that it consists of the ancestor species and all its descendants
example: Ca2+, nitric oxide, cGMP, and vasodilation
acetylcholine binds its GCPR receptor; Ca2+ activates nitric oxide synthase which produces nitric oxide (NO); NO activates guanylyl cyclase in muscle cells, creating a new 2nd messenger: cyclic GMP; cGMP activates PKG, which relaxes muscles and allows more blood flow (vasodilation)
behavior is an essential part of
acquiring nutrients and finding a mate, and contributes to homeostasis
intracellular receptors
act as transcription factors and alter gene expression
selection favors certain genotypes by
acting on the phenotypes of certain organisms
regional adaptive radiations
adaptive radiations can occur when organisms colonize new environments with little competition; the hawaiian islands are one of the world's great showcases of adaptive radiation
life tables
age-specific summaries of the survival patterns of populations, summarize some of the vital statistics; follow the fate of a cohort; built by determining the number of individuals that die in each age-group and to calculate the proportion of individuals surviving from one age class to the next
different shapes of trees
all show genealogical relationships but can be used to address different questions
species richness is positively correlated with
amount of sunlight and water
individual behavior
an action carried out by muscles under control of the nervous system
polygenetic inheritance
an additive effect of two more genes on a single phenotype (e.g. skin color)
reproductive tables
an age-specific summary of the reproductive rates in a population; demographers generally ignore males and focus only on females bc they are the producers of offspring; two key parameters are number of breeding females, age of reproductive females
TEs are a source of phenotypic variation
an initial insertion of a Gret1 LTR retortransposon (not present in the Cabernet variety) resulted in a loss-of-function allele of the Vvmby1 A gene, leading to a loss of color in the fruit of the Chardonnay variety. a subsequent rearrangement in Gret1 results in revertant, colored grapes in varieties such as Ruby Okuyama
commensalism (+/0 interaction)
an interaction between species that benefits one of the species but neither harms nor benefits the other; is difficult to document in nature because any close association between two species is likely to affect both of them, even if only slightly
characters shared by the outgroup and ingroup
ancestral characters that predate the divergence of both groups from a common ancestor
the main sex hormones are steroids called
androgens (testosterone) and estrogen (estradiol) and progestins (progesterone)
testes
androgens: support sperm formation, promote development and maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics
to avoid damage to host,
animals protect themselves by means of their immune system
exchange with the environment:
animals require mechanisms for the exchange of molecules into and out of the body: gases, nutrients, wastes. because diffusion is rapid over short distances, one adaptation is to place many or all cells in direct contact with the outside environment. this could be in for of a gastrovascular cavity. another form is a circulatory system that moves fluid between each cell's immediate surrounding and the body tissues where exchange with the environment occurs.
pathogens make
animals sick
proliferation of B and T cells:
apoptosis kills lymphocytes with self-reactive receptors prior to their release into circulation (self-tolerance). activated lymphocytes multiply, producing clones (clonal selection). Some are effector cells that immediate action. B cells: plasma cells. T cells: helper T cells (CD4+) and cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). some are memory cells that increase the speed and strength of the response upon subsequent exposure.
light reactions
are carried out by molecules in the thylakoid membranes; convert light energy to the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH; split H2O and release O2 to the atmosphere
capillaries
arterioles branch into; form capillary beds, are thin and microscopic vessels with porous walls. this is where chemical exchange take place
induction by nearby cells
as cells divide, cytoplasmic determinants become diluted and degraded. then, a process called induction becomes more important (cell-cell signaling); inductive signals from nearby embryonic cells, either via direct contact or via soluble secreted growth factors, induce the target cell to turn on or off specific sets of genes
seedless bananas
bananas are seedless because a chromosomal imbalance; bananas are triploid, having inherited two sets of chromosomes from one original parent and one set from other; because of this odd number, homolgous chromosomes cannot pair properly during metaphase I, and meiosis fails; no gametes are formed; but bananas are parthenocarpic, so fruit can develop without fertilization. thus, the fruit is seedless. propagation is via side shoots; the problem with commercial banas (Cavendish strain) is that they are all clones. there is not genetic variation (monoculture); now, the fungus "Tropical Race 4" is threatening the Cavendish with extinction
polyphyly
based on convergent characters
secondary succession
begins in an area where soil remains after a disturbance
the nervous system
can be as simple as a nerve net; can also involve cephalization, where sensory neurons and interneurons are clustered in the anterior of the body; it can be divided into a central nervous system (CNS) and a peripheral nervous system (PNS); in vertebrates, the brain and spinal cord form the CNS, and nerves and ganglia are the key components of the PNS
dominantly inherited disorders
can be homozygous or heterozygous. (~3700 autosomal dominant diseases are known); examples include archondroplasia, a form of dwarfism that is lethal when homozygous for the dominant allele. neurological diseases (ataxias, paraplegia, dystonia, inherited dementia)
venules
capillaries converge into
arteries
carry blood from the heart to organs throughout the body
immune system problems: transplantation
cells from another person can be recognized as foreign and attacked by immune defenses. for blood transfusions, blood types must match. for organ transplants, MHC molecules (encoded in several loci, each with many alleles) must match as closely as possible between the donor and recipient. even then , the recipient receives immunosuppressants.
"target cells"
certain types of cells that are equipped to respond to hormones because they have the appropriate receptors
microevolution
change in the genetic makeup of a population from generation to generation
inbreeding
changes genotype frequencies by increasing the proportion of homozygotes and reduces the proportion of heterozygotes in any population in which it occurs. in the most extreme case (selfing), it has effects just like positive assortive mating
nonsynonymous mutations
changes in nucleotides that change amino acids
basilar membrane
changes in thickness along the length of the cochlea. this accounts for pitch reception
morphological species concept
characterizes species by body shape and other structural features. it applies to sexual and asexual species but relies on subjective criteria
phylogenetic trees are built from
characters
meiosis results in
chromosome reduction from diploid to haploid. If meiosis did not happen, fertilization would keep doubling the number of chromosomes
metaphase II
chromosomes attach to the metaphase plate. because crossing over took place, the two sister chromatids are not identical
interphase (S phase)
chromosomes duplicate during this, yielding sister chromatids
example of unity of life
cilia of paramecium and cilia of windpipe cell
natural killer cells
circulate throughout the body and detect and kill infected cells
sister chromatids are held together by
cohesins
polyploidy is
common in plants, but not animals. more normal in appearance than aneuploids
endocrine system
communicates via hormones, many of which act as long distance chemical signals
nervous system
communicates via long-distance electrical signals and short distance chemical signals
why do we care about species diversity?
communities with higher diversity are: more productive (they yield more biomass) and more stable in their productivity, better able to withstand and recover from environmental stresses, and more resistant to invasive species, organisms that become established outside their native range
comparative embryology
compartive embryology reveals anatomical homologies not visible in adult organisms. for example, all vertebrate embryos have a post-anal tail and pharyngeal arches
examples of interspecific interactions
competition, predation, herbivory, symbiosis (parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism), and facilitation
totipotent stem cells
completely undifferentiated and can give rise to any cell type. these must be collected at the blastocyst stage or earlier
myofibrils
composed of repeating sections called sarcomeres. the sacromeres line up in adjacent myofibrils, giving an organization called striated muscle
ventricles (brain)
contain cerebrospinal fluid
acrosome
contains enzymes that help the perm penetrate the egg
organ of corti
contains the mechanoreceptors of the ear, with hairs projecting into the cochlear duct. the hairs project into the cochlear duct and attach the tectorial membrane. sound waves make the basilar membrane vibrate, which bends the hairs and depolarizes the hair cells
systole
contraction
muscle and the skeletal system:
converting muscle contraction to movement requires a skeleton. movement occurs by contraction of msucle connected to two parts of the skeleton. in vertebrates, msucle is anchored to bone via a tendon. usually, to move a body part back and forth, two muscles attached to the same section of the skeleton must be sequentially contract. skeletons also function in support and protection
cerebellum
coordinates motor commands to muscles
instantaneous growth rate can be expressed as
dN/dt = rinst*N
fast twitch
dark meat (bc of myoglobin)
"carbonaria"
dark, melanic, dominant; cryptic against the polluted background
stroke
death of nervous tissue in the brain due to a lack of O2
pitch
determined by the frequency of the sound wave, and different areas of the cochlea are receptive to different pitch
each sexually reproducing species has a characteristic
diploid and haploidd number
the number of possible combinations increases with the ______ number of the organisms, and equals _____, where ____ is the __________
diploid; 2n; n; haploid number
intrasexual selection
direct competition among individuals of one sex (often males) for mates of the opposite sex
inclusive fitness
direct fitness + indirect fitness
support for evolution
direct observations, homology, fossil record, biogeography
systematics
discipline that classifies organisms an determines their evolutionary relationships
map units
distances between genes; one map unit or centimorgan, represents a 1% recombination frequency; indicate relative distance and order, not precise locations of genes
convergent evolution
distantly-related organisms resemble each other because of convergent evolution; the independent evolution of similar features in different lineages; such features area analogous and not homologous (i.e. sugar gliders and flying squirrel)
basal taxon
diverges early in the history of a group and originates near the common ancestor of the group
pattern formation
driven by positional information; begins in the early embryo; cytoplasmic determinants and inductive signals contribute to developing the spatial organization for tissues and organs; for example, in Drosophila melanogaster, cytoplasmic determinants localized in the unfertilized egg provide positional information for the three axes
cytoplasmic streaming
driven by the cytoskeleton and circulates cytoplasm within a cell
most imprinted genes are critical for
embryonic development
when a population becomes crowded and resource competition increases
emigration often increases
corpus callosum
enables the right and left cerebral cortices to communicate
amnion
encases the fluid that protects the embryo
labia majora
encloses the vulva; within are the labia minora and the clitoris, which together with the vagina, engorge with blood during sexual arousal
yolk sac
encloses the yolk in the ehh of reptiles, and in mammals is a site for the early formation of blood cells
genes
encoded in DNA, and nuclear DNA is packed into chromosomes
the two major communication systems of animals
endocrine system and nervous system
kinases
enzymes that catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups, turning a hydrophobic residue into a hydrophilic one
protein tyrosine phosphates
enzymes that remove phosphate groups from phosphorylated tyrosine residues on proteins. they turn off RTKs
sperm traverses the _______ and completes maturation
epididymis
the sperm travel to the _________ and they become ________
epididymis; motile
dosage compensation
equalization of gene expression between the males and females of a species
the origin of self-replicating molecules that
eventually made inheritance possible
general rules about pedigrees for rare dominants:
every affected person has an affected parent; about half of the offspring of an affect parent are also affected; the phenotype usually occurs in both sexes
variation in heritable traits is a prerequisite for
evolution
Darin developed three main ideas
evolution explains life's unity; evolution explains life's diversity; natural selection is the cause of adaptive evolution
keystone species
exert strong control on e a community by their ecological roles, or niches (not necessarily abundant in the community)
the muscular uterus can
expand to contain a fetus
motor neurons
extend out of the processing centers and trigger a response in the form of muscle or gland activity.
astrocytes
facilitate information transfer at the synapse. participate in the forming of the blood-brain barrier
re-arrangements of genetic material can lead to
false conclusions
fast oxidative
fast contraction speed, aerobic respiration, intermediate rate of fatigue, many mitochondria, high myoglobin content (red muscle)
fast glycolytic
fast contraction speed, glycolysis, fast rate of fatigue, few mitochondria, low myoglobin content (white muscle)
tay sachs disease
fatal; a dysfunctional enzyme causes an accumulation of lipids in the brain. at the organismal level, the allele is recessive. at the biochemical level, the phenotype (i.e. the enzyme activity level) is incompletely dominant. at the molecular level, the alleles are codominant
hydrostatic skeleton
fluid held under pressure in a closed body compartment. these animals control their movement by changing the shape of their fluid-filled compartments. found in cnidarians, flatworms, nematodes, and annelids.
lymphatic system:
fluid lost by the capillaries is returned to the blood by the lymphatic system. this fluid is called lymph. the lymphatic system drains into large veins at the base of the neck. the mechanics flow via lymph vessels is similar to that of veins. along the lymph vessels are the lymph nodes, which are filled with white blood cells and play critical roles in defense. blockage of lymph flow results in edema.
the visual field: focus
focusing occurs by changing the shape of the lens. at the fovea, there is a high density of cones but no rods. this is the region with the sharpest receptive field, but it provides less sensitivity to light. the ratio of rods to cones increases with distance from the fovea.
beginning at puberty, _________ periodically stimulates a small group of follicles to resume growth and developmetn
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
often, it is the ________ of action potentials that encodes the signal
frequency
the frizzled gene in chickens
frizzled feathers, abnormal body temperatures, higher metabolic and blood flow rates, greater digestive capacity. lay fewer eggs
cell junctions
gap junctions in animals cells and plasmodesmata in plant cells allow molecules to pass readily between adjacent cells without having to cross plasma membranes
chorion
gas exchange
phylogenetic analyses use molecular data
genetic basis of characters knows. larger amount of phylogenetic information. any groups of organisms can be compared. different rates of evolution. mathematical modelling. character delimitation is straightforward. DNA is the ultimate level of information. aligning DNA data.
three levels of biodiversity
genetic diversity in a population; species diversity in an ecosystem; community and ecosystem diversity across a region
effects of genetic drift summary
genetic drift is significant in small populations; genetic drift can cause allele frequencies to change at random; genetic drift can lead to a loss of genetic variation within populations; genetic drift can cause harmful alleles to become fixed
effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine
glycogen broken down to glucose; increased blood glucose; increased blood pressure; increased breathing rate; increased metabolic rate; change in blood flow patterns, leading to increased alertness and decreased digestive, excretory, and reproductive system activity
FSH and LH are called
gonadotropins because they act on the gonads (male and female) and support gametogenesis
Changes in charge distribution due to ion flow through gated channels cause changes in membrane potential. There are two types of changes:
graded potentials, action potentials
morphogen gradient hypothesis
gradients of substances called morphogens establish the axes and other features
metapopulations
groups of populations linked by immigration and emigration
cladistics
groups organisms by common descent
homologous chromosomes
have the same length, centromere position, and gene arrangment (this is true for the autosomes but not for the sex chromosomes)
pangenesis hypothesis
hereditary substances called gemules or pangenes are shed by all parts of the organism and carried in the bloodstream
heterozygote advantage (overdominance)
heterozygote has greater fitness either homozygote. results in a balanced polymorphism
HDL
high-density lipoprotein
temporal and spatial expression of hox genes
homeotic genes that control A/P structures occur in the same linear sequence in fruit flies and mice; most of these genes are evolutionarily conserved, and their temporal and spatial expression follows the same pattern as the linear order on their chromosomes; they all include a sequence that encodes a homeodomain that binds to DNA (transcription factor)
z
how many species should be found in a habitat as its area increases
types of skeletal systems
hydrostatic and exoskeletons and endoskeleton
positive assortative mating
if the phenotype is under genetic control, positive assortative mating decreases heterozygosity for the genes affecting the trait; on average heterozygotes decreases if similar genotypes are pairing. note that heterozygotes are decreased by half each generation with complete positive assortative mating
microglia
immune cells in the CNS
lack of iodine
impedes production of active T3 and T4. this induces overproduction of TSH, and results in goiter and other problems
example of epistasis
in dogs and many other mammals, coat color depends on two genes. one gene determines the pigment color (with alleles B for black and b for brown). the other gene (with alleles E for pigment color and e for no pigment color) determines whether the pigment will be deposited in the hair
inheritance of sex-linked genes
in humans and other mammals, there are two varieties of sex chromosomes, X and Y. other animals have different methods of sex determination. genes on sex chromosomes (X-linked) exhibit a different pattern of inheritance than autosomal genes.
membrane potential (Vm)
in millivolts, where the electrical gradient is "strong enough" to attract the ions back across the membrane, thereby stopping the net flow of ions driven by the chemical gradient.
eosinophils
in mucosal surfaces an discharge enzymes that damage multicellular parasites
innate immunity in vertebrates:
in vertebrates, innate immunity co-exists with adaptive immunity. barrier defenses include: the skin, the mucous membranes lining the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts (mucus traps particles that are then swept away). lysozymes in tears, saliva, and mucous secretions destroy the cell walls of some bacteria. the acidic environment of the stomach lyses many ingested pathogens. secretions from oil and sweat glands acidify the skin, preventing the growth of many bacteria.
FLO1
in yeast, variation in the number of TR repeats in the FLO1 gene, which encodes for a cell surface antigen, can make yeast cells stick to each other or be loose in the liquid culture
many species have mechanisms that help avoid or prevent
inbreeding
pancreas
insulin: lowers blood glucose level; glucagon: raises blood glucose level
Changes in charge distribution due to
ion flow through gated channels cause changes in membrane potential.
signals are
ions or molecules that directly or indirectly regulate protein function (Ca2+, amines, peptides, steroids)
positive feedback in the case of oxytocin
is because milk release induces more suckling, which induces the production of more oxytocin
negative feedback in the case of secretin
is due to the alkalinization of the duodenum, which decreases the production of secretin
locus
is fixed if all individuals in a population are homozygous for the same allele
endometrium
is rich in vasculature
cell determination
is the point where the cell is irreversibly committed to become a particular cell type; at this point the differentiation is set, even if the cell is transplanted; this is marked by the presence of tissue-specific proteins
what determines the number of species on an island?
islands are good "experimental models" to understand area effects if we can understand what determines diversity on islands, then we can generalize to how area affects diversity; we need to consider: the size of the island, distance from mainland, immigration, extinction; the equilibrium model of island biogeography maintains that species richness on an ecological island levels off at a dynamic equilibrium point
when isolation occurs
isolated populations may diverge genetically because of mutation, drift, and/or natural selection
because norms of reaction curves of different genotypes often cross each other,
it is not possible to predict the phenotypes of different genotypes in new environments (except for genotypes so defective that they will not survive in any environment)
zero population growth occurs when
lambda = 1
populations grow when
lambda > 1
in sexual reproduction, the egg is
large and non-motile
ependymal cells
line the ventricles of the brain
CNVs
loci where some individuals have one or multiple copies of a particular gene or genetic region, rather than the standard two copies (one on each homolog); many stem from segmental duplications
leaf abscission
loss of leaves prevents desiccation during periods of low water availability. a decreases in auxin renders the cells of the abscission layer more sensitive to ethylene, inducing abscission
mutations rates are ____ in animals and plants
low
social learning
many animals learn to solve problems by observing the behavior of other individuals; social learning forms the roots of culture
environment
many environmental conditions can directly increase the mutation rate
sexual dimorphism
marked differences between the sexes in secondary sexual characteristics
in humans, germ cells (2n) divide by
meiosis and result in gametes that contain a single set of chromosomes. gametes are haploid (n)
pineal gland
melatonin: participates in regulation of biological rhythms
biological species
members are reproductively compatible, at least potentially; they cannot interbreed with other populations
g-proteins
membrane proteins that bind energy-rich guanine nucleotides: GDP and GTP; composed of A subunit (binds GDP/GTP), and B and Y subunits
mutations are more rapid in
microorganisms
mesoderm
middle layer of embryo; skeletal and muscular systems; circulatory and lymphatic systems; excretory and reproductive systems (Except germ cells); dermis of skin; adrenal cortex
in humans, the zygote divides by
mitosis
in humans, somatic cells divide by ______ and contain ________ and are _______
mitosis and contain 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total)- a maternal and paternal set- and are diploid
in insects, multiple rounds of
mitosis occurs without cytokinesis; the nuclei then migrate to the outer edge of the embyro, and the plasma membrane form
DNA replication (comparison of mitosis and meiosis)
mitosis: occurs during interphase before mitosis begins meiosis: occurs during interphase before meiosis I begins
monozygotic twins
monozygotic twins results from the split of a blastocyst or early stage embryo; cell must be totipotent; the timing of the split impacts the nature of the placenta or placentas
most genes exist in populations in
more than two allelic forms
Morgan's experiment
morgan mated male flies with white eyes (mutant) with female flies with red eyes (wild type). the F1 generation all had red eyes. the F2 generation showed the 3:1 red:white eye ratio. morgan determined that the white eye mutant allele must be located on the X chromosome. morgan's finding supported the chromosome theory of inheritance
mechanical isolation
morphological differences can prevent successful completion of mating
characters can be
morphological, behavioral, physiological, or molecular
DNA transponsons
move through a DNA intermediate; "cut-and-paste" or "copy-and-paste"
Retrotransposons
move through a RNA intermediate; always "copy-and-paste"; most abundant
translocation
moves a segment from one chromosome to another
skeletal muscle
moves the bones and the body and is progressively broken down into: a bundle of muscle fibers, a multinucleated muscle fiber, a myofibril that contains thin and thick filaments. thin filaments attach at the Z lines (the edge of the sacromere). thick filaments are anchored in the M-lines (the middle of the sarcomere). during rest, the thin and thick filaments partially overlap.
genetic diversity arises via
mutations and recombination
oligodendrocytes
myelinate axons in the CNS
schwann cells
myelinate axons in the PNS
the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus
natural selection can only act on variation with a genetic component. the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found on people. one strain, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a dangerous pathogen. when exposed to methicillin, MRSA strains are more likely to survive and reproduce than nonresistant S. aureus strains. MRSA stains are now resistant to many antibiotics
When bundled together, the axons of neurons form
nerves
major kinds of innate immune cells
neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, eosinophils, mast cells, natural killer cells
nonparental phenotypes
new combinations of traits
what happens to allele frequencies under inbreeding each generation, for alleles with no effect on fitness?
no change in allele frequencies in large populations
wild type
normal
genes imprinted in the germ line are
not expressed early in fetal develpoment
telophase II and cytokinesis
nuclei form, the chromosomes begin to de-condense, and cytokinesis occurs
founder effect
occurs when a few individuals become isolated from a larger population (a form of bottleneck); allele frequencies in the small founder population can be different from those in the larger parent population
balancing selection
occurs when natural selection maintains stable frequencies of tow or more phenotypic forms in a population; includes heterozygote advantage and frequency-dependent selection
when a stem cells divides
one daughter remains a stem cell while the other one specializes. lymphoid stem cells. myeloid stem cells.
there are two normal exceptions to Mendelian genetics
one exception involves gene located in the nucleus, the other involves genes located outside the nucleus. in both cases, the sex of the parent contributing an allele is a factor in the pattern of inheritance
monogamy
one male mates with one female; males and females typically have similar external morphologies
Elvis monkey
one of more than 1,000 new species discovered this century in the Greater Mekong region of southeast Asia
genes can be transferred horizontally from
one organism to an unrelated one
parasitism (+/- interaction)
one organism, the parasity, derives nourishment from another organism, its host, which is harmed in the process, but is usually not lethal
cervix
opens into the vagina
a couple of examples of amazing adaptations
orchids that mimic female wasps; shape shifting octopus
equilibrium
organs in the inner ear detect body movement, position, and balance. the utricle and saccule detect position in terms of gravity or linear movement. These chambers contain hair cells that project into a gel that contains calcium carbonate particles called otoliths. Bending of hair by the otoliths signals the angle of the head. Three fluid-filled semicricular canals connected to the utricle detect turning of the head and rotational acceleration
antidiuretic hormone and the posterior pituitary
osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus monitor blood osmolarity. when too increased (too salty), ADH is released; this induces thirst and increased water reabsorption by the kidneys; when back to normal, ADH release ceases
mitosis of stem cells can give rise to
other stem cells, precursor cells that differentiate further
because signaling by neurons can regulate the release of hormones, the nervous and endocrine systems often...
overalp in function
frequency of AA offspring is
p^2
hardy-weinberg rule
p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
biological clocks and circadian rhythms are maintained by the phytochrome switch
plants use light to maintain their biological clocks; however, if you place a plant in the dark, it maintains its clock, although it starts to drift; the environment stimulus that plants use most often to determine the time of year is photoperiod, which is determined by night length; controls flowering and other processes
receptor Tyrosine kinases (RTKs)
plasma membrane receptors with enzymatic activity; RTKs catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group from aTP to tyrosine residues on a substrate protein; unlike a GPCR, which activates a single pathway, an RTK can simultaneously activate multiple signal transduction pathways; abnormal RTK function is associated with several types of cancer
patterns of diversity have been influenced by large-scale processes such as
plate tectonics, mass extinctions, and adaptive radiations
types of mutualisms
pollination, trophic, defensive, dispersive
complete nondisjunction leads to
polyploidy, a condition in which an organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes
dynamic biological processes influence
population density, dispersion, and demographics
natural selection is a
process of selection. it is not a creative mechanism
multipotent stem cells
produce blood cells and are located in the red marrow inside bones
crossing over
produces recombinant chromosomes: individual chromosomes that carry DNA derived from two different parents (in humans, meiosis results in 1 to 3 crossover events per chromosome pair); the orientation of chromosomes at metaphase II is random, further increasing variations (for humans, this is 2^23 x 2^23 or 70 trillion)
fertilization
produces the zygote
primary immune response:
production of effector cells from a clone of lymphocytes during the first exposure to antigen. peaks 10-17 days after the initial response.
parasympathetic division
promotes calming and a return to self-maintainence; most nerves exit at the base of the brain, form synapses near or within an internal organ; Ach
william hamilton
proposed a quantitative measure for predicting when natural selection would favor altruistic acts among related individuals
the per capita rate of increase (r) is
r = b-m
natural selection favors altruism when
rB > C (or rb-c>0)
plants that can move
rapid movements (at least for a plant) can occur when there is rapid loss of turgor within pulvini, which are specialized motor organs at the leaf joint. stimulation causes cells of the pulvini to lose potassium and a s a consequence water leaves the cells (vacuoles) by osmosis; when it happens in response to touch it is called thigmotropism
genes undergoing selection can be
rapidly evolving and contain many convergently evolving sites
tay-sachs
rare autosomal recessive; completely lethal before reproduction
diencephalon
receives sensory input going to the cerebrum (thalamus), has neuroendocrine function (hypothalamus), and is sthe source of melatonin (pineal)
three stages of cell signaling
reception, transduction, response
two general kinds of receptors
receptors on the cell membrane and intracellular receptors
g-protein coupled receptors
receptors with seven transmembrane domains that work with the help of g proteins (over 700 GPCRs are encoded in the human genome); hormones such as epinephrine and many neurotransmitters function via GPCRs; GPCRs function in embryonic development, sensory reception, and many other processes; GPCRs are a frequent target of drugs; malfunction or interference results in disease
the X __________ when in females by the male-limited Y is ___________
recombines; nonrecombining
RBC
red blood cell = erythrocyte
gene flow tends to
reduce variation among populations over time
What determines variation in biological diversity?
relatively small-scale or local factors that influence the diversity of communities (e.g. the effects of species interactions, keystone species, disturbances); large scale biogeographic factors also contribute to the tremendous range of diversity observed in biological communities; two key factors: latitude of a community and the size and location of the area a community occupies
diastole
relaxation
vasodilation
relaxing of smooth muscle, via nitric oxide
mast cells
release histamine
evaporation
removal of what from the surface of a liquid (e.g. sweat) that is losing some of its molecules as gas
cri du chat
results from a specific deletion in chromosome 5. a child born with this syndrome is severely intellectually disabled and has a catlike cry; individuals usually die in infancy or early childhood.
aneuploidy
results from the fertilization of gametes in which nondisjunction occurred and results in monosomic (2n-1) and trisomic (2n+1) individuals
effects of mineralocorticoids
retention of sodium ions and water by kidneys; increased blood volume and blood pressure
interspersed repeats
retrotransposons and DNA transposons
frequency-dependent selection example
scale-eating fish of Lake Tanganyika; attack other fish by sneaking up, rushing them, biting off a moutfulof scales; those with mouths that curve to the right attack the left side of victims and vice-versa; handedness of mouth determined by a single locus with 2 alleles; right-handedness is dominant
examples of neurological disorders
schizophrenia, depression, drug addiction, alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease
______, ________, and _______ produce secretion that combine with the sperm to form the semen
seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands
chemoreceptors
sense chemical cues; there are two main kinds: general receptors and specific receptors
pain receptors (nocireceptors)
sense extreme conditions and trigger defensive reactions, such as withdrawal from danger
mechanoreceptors
sense physical deformation caused by mechanical energy (pressure, touch, stretch, motion, sound). these are typically ion channels that are linked to external or internal structures. bending or stretching alters the permeability of ion channels. They are usually embedded in connective tissue
Information processing in the nervous system occurs in three stages
sensory input, integration, motor output
a cascade of developmental regulation
sequential (hierarchial) expression of genes is controlled by transcription factors that bind to enhancers upstream of promoters of the controlled genes; maternal effect genes; gap genes; pair-rule genes; segment polarity genes; homeotic (Hox) genes
basal nuclei
serve as centers for planning and learning movement sequences
mutations rates may be affected by
sex, generation time, the environment, and physiological stress
recessively inherited disorder
show up only in individuals homozygous for the allele (~4000 autosomal recessive diseases known); carries are heterozygous individuals who carry the recessive allele but are phenotypically normal. albinism is a recessively inherited phenotype. (cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis, phenylketonuria, spinal muscular atrophy)
biochemical processes in diverse organisms are
similar
homology
similarity resulting from common ancestry
anaphase II
sister chromatids separate and move toward opposite poles
haplodipoidy means
sisters share 75% of their genes, compared to normal 50% between females and their offspring
slow oxidative
slow contraction speed, aerobic respiration, slow rate of fatigue, many mitochondria, high myoglobin content (red muscle)
types of skeletal muscle fibers
slow oxidative, fast oxidative, fast glycolytic
altruism
some animals even behave in ways that reduce their individual fitness but increase the fitness of other; in species like ants and naked mole rats, nonreproductive individuals may sacrifice thier lives protecting their reproductive queen and king from predators
experience and behavior:
some behaviors vary with experience, and thus, differ between individuals. experience during development can modify physiology in a way that alters parental beahvior, extending the influence of environment to a subsequent generation. (example mice)
hybrid breakdown
some first-generation hybrids are fertile, but when they mate with each other or with either parent species, offspring of the next generation are feeble or sterile
heterozygote advantage
some individuals who are heterozygous at a particular locus have greater fitness than homozygotes; natural selection will tend to maintain two or more alleles at that locus when heterozgyote advantage occurs; can result from stabilzing or directional selection
temporal isolation
species that breed at different times of the day, different seasons, or different years cannot mix their gametes
steps in fertilization
sperm dissolve or penetrate any protective layer surrounding the egg, and reaches the plasma membrane; molecules on the sperm surface bind to receptors in the egg surface (ensures species compatibility); changes at the surface of the egg precent polyspermy (only one sperm is allowed to enter)
gametic isolation
sperm of one species may not be able to fertilize eggs of another species
the spermatids differentiation into
sperm, with an acrosome and a motile tail
feedback regulation: simple neuroendocrine pathway
stimulus is received by a sensory neuron; the neuron stimulates a neurosecretory cell, which secretes a neurohormone; the neurohormone travels via the bloodstream to the target cell, interacts with a receptor, and triggers a physiological response
cells of diverse organisms are
structurally similar
behavior is subject to
substantial evolutionary selection over time, which affects anatomy
if there are rare deleterious recessive alleles, most individuals will not
suffer from deletertious effects because they are most likely to be found in heterozygotes (2pq is much greater than q^2 when q is small)
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
suggests that moderate levels of disturbance can foster greater diversity than either high or low levels of disturbance; high levels of disturbance exclude many slow-growing species; low levels of disturbance allow dominant species to exclude less competitive species
ethylene and the triple response to mechanical stress
the "triple response" allows growing shoots to avoid obstacles. when the tip of the plant contacts an obstacle the plant produces ethylene which triggers the triple response: slowing of stem elongation, thickening of the stem (Strength), a curvature that causes the stem to grow horizontally (to avoid the obstacle)
Ras/MAPK pathway
the Ras family is composed of about 30 "small G-proteins"; small G-proteins ("small GTPases") are similar in function to the A subunits of G-proteins. they are activated by the exchange of GDP for GTP, which is promoted by Guanine Exchange Factors (GEF). GEFs can be activated by a variety of pathways such as by binding cAMP; ~30% of all cancers contain mutations in the genes that encode for Ras proteins
associative learning
the ability to associate one environmental feature with another. blue jays, for example, avoid eating monarch butterflies. this is because they associate monarch butterflies with vomiting and indigestion (vomiting is due to substances that the monarch butterflies accumulate from the milkweed plants they eat)
bioinformatics
the application of computational methods to the storage and analysis of biological data
organogenesis: neurulation in chicks
the archenteron forms when lateral folds pinch the embryo away from the yolk; the notochord, neural tube and somites develop much like in the frog; by 3 days, and 2-3 mm in length, rudiments of most major organs are visible
transduction
the binding of the signaling molecule alters the receptor and initiates an intracellular signal transduction pathway. transduction often occurs in a series of steps
limitations of the biological species concept
the biological species concept annot be applied to fossils or asexual organisms (including all prokaryotes). the biological species concept emphasizes absence of gene flow. however, gene flow can occur between distinct species. for example, grizzly bears and polar bears can mate to produce "grolar bears"
at ovulation, the oocyte is released into
the body cavity and cilia on the epithelial lining of the oviduct help collect it by drawing fluid from the body cavity into the oviduct
the evolutionary or modern synthesis of Darwin and Mendel
the body of work that reconciled the sciences and findings of genetics, systematics, and paleontology with Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection
prophase I
the centrosomes move, the spindle forms, and crossing over occurs
closed circulatory system
the circulatory fluid is called blood. it is confined to the veseels and is distinct from the interstitial fluid (annelids, cephalopods, vertebrates)
open circulatory system
the circulatory fluid is called hemolymph which is also the intersitial fluid that bathes the cells (anthropods and some mollusks)
testing genetic equivalence in plants
the cloning of a whole carrot plant from a single carrot root cell; in this example, differentiated cells taken from the root grew into normal adult plants; these new adults plants are all genetically identical: organismal clones
example of patition ecological niches temporally
the common spiny mouse and the golden spiny mouse show temporal partitioning of their niches. both species are normally nocturnal (active during the night). where they coexist, the golden spiny mouse becomes diurnal (active during the day)
relative fitness
the contribution of a genotype to the next generation, compared with contributions of alternative genotypes for the same locus
carbon fixation
the conversion of inorganic carbon (CO2) into organic compounds
sensory reception and transduction
the effect of sensory reception is to open or close ion channels, resulting in a change in the membrane potential. For example, when a substance binds a chemical receptor. The conversion of a stimulus to a change in the membrane potential is called sensory transduction, and the change in the membrane potential itself is called receptor potential.
in sexual reproduction, the female gamete is called
the egg
cytoplasmic determinants
the egg's cytoplasm contains RNA and proteins encoded in the mother's DNA; these factors, called cytoplasmic determinants, are unevenly distributed in the cytoplasm, and cell divisions partition them unevenly into different cells; the collection of cytoplasmic determinants in a cell controls the cell's fate by regulating the expression of specific sets of genes; cytoplasmic determinants are especially important early in development
de-etiolation (greening)
the elongation of stems slows, leaves expand, and chlorophyll is produced; induced by the light-mediated activation of a phytochrome receptor; a signal transduction pathway involving a receptor, ion channels, second messengers, protein kinases and transcription factors leads to the greening response
phylogeny
the evolutionary history of a species of group of related species
oogenesis
the formation and development of oocytes, and it occurs in the ovaries
spermatogenesis
the formation and development of sperm; it occurs in the seminiferous tubules contained within the testes
interactions between plates cause
the formation of mountains and islands, and earthquakes
oogenesis begins with
the formation of oogonia from primordial germ cells
theory of evolution
the genetic composition of a population changes over time; the process of evolution is primarily driven by natural selection (descent with modification)
atherosclerosis
the hardening of arteries by fatty deposits. this is caused by the accumulation of cholesterol into a plaque, followed by inflammation. exercise decreases LDL:HDL (decreasing risk), whereas smoking and trans-fats increases it
the mammalian heart:
the heart is made of cardiac muscle. diastole (relaxation) of the atria allows most blood to enter the ventricle. the rest is transferred during atrial systole (contraction). systole of the more muscular ventricles pumps blood out of the heart. one complete cycle is called the cardiac cycle. Pulmonary circuit and systemic circuit. the cardiac output (5 L/min) is dependent on the heart rate (72) and the stroke volume (70 mL). four heart valves prevent backflow. backflow results in a heart murmur
advantages of a closed circulatory system
the higher blood pressure means more effective delivery of O2 and nutrients to the cells. this type of system is particularly well suited for larger and more active animals. it is better suited for regulating the distribution of blood different organs
HIV
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) both escapes and attacks the adaptive response. HIV infects helper T cells by binding CD4, and replicates within. This kills the cell, which with time impairs both humoral and cellular immune responses, resulting in acquired immunodeficinecy syndrome (AIDS). those afflicted often succumb to an opportunistic infection. HIV escapes the immune response because of a high mutation rate.
in mammals, thermoregulation is controlled by
the hypothalamus; warm sensors signal the hypothalamic thermostat when the temperature of the blood increases, activating cooling mechanisms. likewise, cold sensors activate heating mechanisms
"particulate" hypothesis
the idea that parents pass on discrete heritable units (genes); Mendel documented a particulate mechanism through his experiments with garden peas
hemophilia
the inability to properly form clots
example of signaling pathway complexity
the insulin pathway regulated glucose levels in the blood via a receptor tyrosine kinase. Insulin: activates glucose transporters, initiates glycolysis, inhibits glycogen breakdown, promotes glycogen synthesis, alters gene transcription, and initiates the synthesis of new proteins
advantages of an open circulatory system
the lower hydrostatic pressure means that they are less energetically costly (but they are not well suited for gas exchange)
Equilibrium Potential (E)
the magnitude of a cell's membrane voltage at equilibrium; calculated using the Nernst equation.
phylogenetic tree
the mathematical structure used to depict the evolutionary history of a group of organisms or genes; show historical relationships, not similarities; represents a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships
ovarian cycle (7)
the maturing follicle enlarges and ~1 day after the LH/FSH surge the follicle ruptures, releasing the 2ry oocyte to the outside of the ovary (this begins the luteal phase)
carrying capacity
the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain' varies over time and space as limiting factors vary (e.g. energy, shelter, predation, nutrient availability, water, suitable nesting sites)
extracellular matrix (ECM)
the meshwork of secreted glycoproteins and other molecules that lie outside of the plasma membrane; specific components in the ECM guide specific cells
imprinting if often the result of
the methylation (addition of CH3) of cysteine nucleotides
some prey species gain significant protection through mimicry,
the mimicking of the appearance of another species (Batesian and Mullerian)
gene flow
the movement of alleles among populations; the transfer of alleles into or out of a population due to the movement of fertile individuals or their gametes, can also change allele frequencies
alleles can be transferred through
the movement of fertile individuals or gametes (i.e. pollen)
the nervous system
the nervous system recieves (sensory input), processes (integration), and rapidly transmits information directing the appropriate physiological or behavioral response (motor output) with a provision for modifying the response with experience (learning and memory). these processes involve changes in the difference in the electrical potential (voltage) across the plasma membrane that arise from the regulated movement of ions across the membrane
behavior
the nervous system;s response to a stimulus and is carried out by the muscular or the hormonal system; subject to natural selection; have a genetic basis, are heritable, and can evolve by natural selection
realized niche
the niche actually occupied by a species
fundamental nich
the niche potentially occupied by that species
determining microbial diversity using molecular tools
the number of abundance of the different sequences of a particular gene (e.g. ribosomal DNA) in a sample can be used to approximate the number and abundance of microbial species in a sample; through PCR and sequencing samples from different microbial communities, we can estimate and compare their diversities
allele frequencies
the number of copies of an allele in a population
genotype frequencies
the number of copies of different combinations of alleles (genotypes) in a population
L is
the number of generation links between the individuals
population density
the number of individuals per unit area or volume
the theory of island biogeography summary
the number of species on an island should be at equilibrium (roughly constant over time); this equilibrium is dynamic (i.e. the result of continual turnover of species; some become extinct, and new ones arrive); large islands should support more species relative to smaller islands at equal distances; distant islands should have fewer species relative to close islands of equal size; large, close islands will have the most diversity; small, distant islands the least
because genes are inherited from two parents...
the offspring has a unique combination of genes. this uniqueness is in large part due to meiosis followed by fertilization
the most parsimonious tree
the one with the smallest number of changes
diversity through gene duplication
the origin of the gamma fetal Hgb coincides with the origin of the placental mammals. gamma Hgb binds oxygen with a higher affinity, enabling efficient transfer of oxygen from the bloodstream of the mother to the fetus
(spermatogenesis) stem cells are on
the outer edge of the seminiferous tubules. as the progeny develops, they move inward, and sperm are released into the lumen
the uterine cycle is controlled by
the ovarian cycle (hormonal activity links the two cycles)
fertilization usually occurs in
the oviduct
logistic growth model
the per capita rate of increase declines as carrying capacity is reached; starts with the exponential model and adds an expression that reduces per capita rate of increase as N approaches K; rather than a J-curve, we get a symmetrical S-shaped cruve with an upper asymptote; growth rate declines when the population size gets large
incomplete dominance
the phenotype of F1 hybrids is somewhere between the phenotypes of the two parental varieties
polyploidy
the presence of extra sets of chromosomes due to accidents during cell division; much more common in plants than in animals; can produce new biological species in sympatry within a single generation
thermoregulation
the process by which animals maintain their body temperature within a normal range
cognition
the process of acquiring knowledge that involves awareness, reasoning, recollection, and judgment. problem solving is evidence of cognitive learning. (experiment: (1) train bees in the color maze (2) test bees in the pattern maze; result: bees can distinguish "same" from "different")
gene annotation
the process of identifying all protein-coding genes in a genome sequence and ultimately their functions
apoptosis is essential for
the proper development of the nervous and immune systems, and for the formation of the hands and feet
relative abundance
the proportion each species represents of the total individuals in the community
adaptive radiation
the rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor; may follow mass extinction, the evolution of novel characteristics, the colonization of new regions
age structure
the relative number of individuals at each age in the population; predict a population's growth trends and can illuminate social conditions
klinefelter syndrome
the result of a extra chromosome in a male, producing XXY individuals. 1:500-1,000. unusually small testes, sterile. breast enlargement and other feminine body characteristics.
Mendel's laws of segregation and independent assortment reflect
the rules of probabilty
biogeography
the scientific study of the geographic distribution of species, provides evidence of evolution. earth's continents were formerly united in a single large continent called Pangaea, but have since separated by continental drift; an understanding of continent movement and modern distribution of species allows us to predict when and where different groups evolved; Darwin's famous voyage on the Beagle allowed him to study the distribution of different organisms, and provided important clues about the origin of species
ecological succession
the sequence of community and ecosystem changes after a disturbance; succession is the result of changes induced by the vegetation itself
signals alter
the shape or conformation of target proteins, thus activating or inactivating them (allosteric regulation or covalent modification)
population dynamics
the size of populations doesn't always remain stable. some populations fluctuate in size. other populations experience regular cyclic changes. yet others are influenced by immigration and emigration. the study of population dynamixs focuses on the complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that cause variation in population size
cell differentiation
the specialization of structure and function
CNS (brain and spinal cord)
the spinal cord conveys information to and from the brain, and also acts independently from the brain to produce reflexes
prophase II
the spindle forms
speciation
the splitting of an ancestral lineage (species) into one or more descendants which ultimately means that all organisms on earth are related to each other via a gigantic 'tree' of common descent, the tree of life
homeostasis
the steady-state physiological condition of the body
sensory perception
the stimulus is processed when the action potentials reach the brain, generating the perception of the stimulus. These action potentials travel along neurons that are dedicated to a particular stimulus. The brain distinguishes between stimuli (e.g. sight or sound) by the path they take.
fossil record
the study of fossils helped to lay the groundwork for Darwin's ideas. Fossils are remains or traces of organisms from the past, usually found in sedimentary rock. the fossil record provides evidence of the extinction of species, the origin of new groups, and changes within groups over time
population ecology
the study of populations in relation to environment, including environmental influences on density and distribution, age structure, and population size
behavioral ecology
the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior
behavioral ecology
the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis of animal behavior
demography
the study of the vital statistics of populations and how they change over time
reception
the target cell detects a signaling molecule that binds to a receptor protein. binding of the signal (1st messenger or ligand) triggers a conformational change that activates the receptor
ecological niche
the total of a species' use of biotic and abiotic resources - an ecological niche can also be through of as an organisms' ecological role
life history
the traits that affect an organism's schedule of reproduction and survival; evolutionary outcomes reflected in the development, physiology, and behavior of an organism
response
the transduced signal triggers a specific response in the target cell. the cell signaling process helps ensure that crucial activities occur in the appropriate time and space
food chain
the transfer of energy up the trophic levels; are not isolated from each other but are linked together in food webs
short segments at the ends of the Y chromosome are homologous with the X, allowing
the two to behave like homologues during meiosis in males
gas exchange refers to:
the uptake of O2 from the environment and the discharge of CO2 into the environment
the penis contains
the urethra as well as three cylinders of spongy tissue that can fill with blood to form an erection
muscle and cilia action moves the egg toward
the uterus
mutation and sexual recombination produce
the variation that makes evolution possible
species diversity of a community
the variety of organisms that make up the community; two components: species richness and relative abundance
ingroup
the various species being studies
waggle dance of honeybees
the waggle dance informs the hive about the distance and direction to food. if the food is near (<50 m), the bee performs the "round dance". odor informs on the source. if food is far, the bee performs the "waggle dance". a half circle in one direction, a straight run with a waggle, and a half circle in the other direction. the angle of the straight run relative to the hive's vertical surface represents the horizontal angle of the food relative to the sun. the longer the straight run, the longer the distance
there is no systematic relationship between
their phenotypic effect and the needs of the organism in which they occur
cells receive signals from
their physical environment and from other cells
ecologically similar species can co-exist in a community if
there are one or more significant differences in their niches
variation in resistance to malaria
there are three genotypes: SS, SA, and AA. sickle cell carriers were 6.2% less likely to be infected by malaria than were normal normal homozygotes. SS homozygotes suffer from complications of anemia that, without treatment, increase mortality. SA heterozygote have the highest fitness in the presence of malaria. The S variant is caused by a mutation in the sixth position of the B-globin chain of hemoglobin. this results in the replacement of hydrophilic glutamic acid by hydrophobic valine.
dominant species
those that are most abundant or have the highest biomass
quantitative characters
those that vary in the population along a continuum
in males, the Y chromosome is ___________ than the X
three times less numerous
the land masses of Earth have formed a supercontinent
three times over the past 1.5 billion years: 1.1 billion, 600 million, and 250 million years ago
thyroid gland
thyroid hormone (T3 and T4): stimulates and maintains metabolic processes; calcitonin: lowers blood calcium level
adaptations
traits that have evolved through the mechanism of natural selection
in the nucleus, signaling pathways may end with the activation of
transcription factors that turn on or off the transcription of specific genes; example: transcription factor CREB is phosphorylated by PKA. it then binds CRE in DNA to activate transcription. CRE-activated genes are involved in gluconeogensis, memory, etc. a low level of CREB is associated with Alzheimer's
convection
transfer of heat by the movement or air of liquid past a surface
radiation
transfer of radiating (electromagnetic) heat
conduction
transfer of thermal motion (heat) between molecules of objects that are in contact with each other
sensory neurons
transmit information about external stimuli.
general receptors (chemo)
transmit information about total solute concentration (e.g. osmoreceptors)
middle ear
transmit vibrations to the oval window
PNS
transmits information to and from the CNS and plays a large role in regulating both an animal's movement and its internal environment
parkinson's symptoms are alleviated by
treatment with L-dopa; after it crosses the blood-brain barrier, L-dopa is converted to DA by the enzyme, dopa decarboxylase
there is more species diversity in the
tropics
Ca2+ and regulatory proteins regulate muscle contraction:
tropomyosin and the troponin complex are bound to the actin strands of thin filaments. at rest, tropomyosin covers the myosin binding sites. When Ca2+ accumulates, it binds to the troponin complex, which shifts the position of tropomyosin, exposing the myosin binding sites. motor neurons cause muscle contractions by triggering the release of Ca2+ into the cytosol of muscle cells with which they form synapses.
pituitary
two fused glands: the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary
sister chromatids
two identical copies of a single chromosome and are closely associated along their length
a dihybrid or other multicharacter cross is equilivalent to
two or more independent monohybrid crosses occurring simultaneously
habitat isolation
two species encounter each other rarely, or not at all, because they occupy different habitats, even though not isolated by physical barriers
tandem repeats
typically found at the centromeres and telomeres of chromosomes these are duplications of more complex 100-200 base sequences
stress
under some conditions, increased rates of mutation appear adaptive
X chromosomes have genes for many characters
unrelated to sex
therapeutic cloning
use stem cells to treat disease
the dihybrid cross
using a dihybrid cross, Mendel developed the law of independent assortment. it states that each pair of alleles segregates independently of each other pair of alleles during gamete formation. this law applies only to genes on different, nonhomologous chromosomes or those far apart on the same chromosome. genes located near each other on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together.
cognitive map
using spatial learning to form; stores the spatial relationship between objects
in sexual reproduction, the sperm is
usually much smaller and motile
kin selection
usually refers to natural selection favoring alleles that increase indirect fitness
because pressure in veins is relatively low,
veins have valves that prevent backflow
mark infected cells for destruction
viral-infected cells are recognized and marked for killing by natural killer
antimicrobial peptides and proteins and the antimicrobial response:
virus-infected cells secrete interferons that induce nearby cells to produce factors that inhibit viral replication. other interferons enhance phagocytosis by macrophages. the complement system consists of ~30 plasma proteins that are activated by microbes, resulting in a biochemical cascade that lyses pathogens. it is also involved in inflammation and in adaptive defenses. also antimicrobial peptides
endotherms
warm their body mostly be heat generated by mtabolism
"blending" idea
was common at the time of Mendel- ideas that genetic material from the two parents blends together
memories are stored in the cerebral cortex:
we hold information for a time in "short-term memory" and release it if it becomes irrelevant. this information is accessed via temporary links formed in the hippocampus (in the limbic system; at the medial temporal lobe). other information is held in "long-term memory". these are connections in the cerebral cortex itself, where new data is associated with already stored memory. memory consolidation is thought to occur during sleep, and be the basis of some of our dreams
two general questions about regulation of population growth
what environment factors stop a population from growing indefinitely? why do some populations show radical fluctuations in size over time, while others remain stable?
example using the model of discrete growth:
what is the population size in 10 generations? N0= 100, lambda = 1.15, t= 10 generations
Barr body
what the inactive X condenses into
inheritance of characters by a single gene may deviate from simple Mendelian patterns in the following situations:
when alleles are not completely dominant or recessive; when a gene has more than two alleles; when a gene produces multiple phenotypes
language
when repeating a spoken word, activity travels from the auditory cortex (temporal) to Wernicke's area (temporal) and tehn on to Broca's area (frontal_ and the motor cortex (frontal); when repeating a written word, the flow of activity is from the visual cortex (occipital) to Wernicke's area, then Broca's area to motor cortex
ectopic pregnancy
when the fertilized egg lodges in an oviduct
aneurysm
when the wall of a vessel weakens and balloons outward
facultative
where both species can survive alone
obligate
where one species cannot survive without the other
which mating system occurs depends upon
whether 1 or 2 parents can effectively raise offspring and whether mates are clumped or dispersed and can be economically defended
slow twitch
white meat
the human lineage of tetrapods evolved around
6-7 MYA
Modeling of the resting potential:
Resting potential can be modeled by an artificial membrane that separates two chambers: To start, the concentration of KCl is higher in the inner chamber and lower in the outer chamber. Because of K+ channels, K+ diffuses down its gradient to the outer chamber. Negative charge (Cl-) builds up in the inner chamber. At equilibrium, the electrical and chemical gradients balance each other.
spinocerebellar ataxia type 1
SCA1 locus, normal (CAG)6-44, repeated sequence mutated (CAG)39-82
machado-joseph disease
SCA3 locus, normal (CAG)12-40, repeat sequence mutated (CAG)55-84
diversity decreases as
latitude increases
_____________ govern Mendelian inheritance
laws of probability
anaphylactic shock
leads to constriction of bronchioles, dilation of peripheral blood vessels, and drop in blood pressure
excessive GH during development
leads to gigantism
excessive GH in adults
leads to growth of body parts still responsive to GH: face, hands, feet (acromegaly)
both the unfertilized egg and the sperm typically survive
2-3 days
retinal
light absorbing molecule
white matter (spinal cord)
makes up the outer layer
blood pressure steps
(1) pressure in cuff closes the artery (2) as pressure drops, blood passes during systole. this is the systolic pressure (3) pressure continues to drop, blood passes during both systole and diastole. this is the diastolic pressure
what affects the pacemaker:
(1) temperature (2) hormones (epinephrine) (3) sympathetic division (increases) (4) parasympathetic division (decreases)
mammalian cardiovascular system:
(1-3) the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs via the pulmonary arteries. in the capillary beds it loads O2 and unloads CO2. (4) blood returns to the left atrium of the heart via pulmonary veins (5-6) oxygenated blood flows into the left ventricle, which pumps it into the systemic circuit via the aorta (7-8) the aorta delivers blood to capillary beads in the head and forelimbs, and capillary beds in the abdominal organs and legs (9-10) oxygen-poor blood is funneled into two large veins: the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava (11) the two venae cava empty their blood into the right atrium, and blood moves to the right ventricle
foundation species
(aka "ecosystem engineers") exert their influence on the community by dramatically altering the physical environment
homology
(ancestral structures that have evolved different functions); mammalian forelimbs (same arrangement of bones in humans, cats, wales, bats); comparative embryology (human embryo and chick embryo both have pharyngeal arches and post-anal tails); genetics and genomics (organisms share a genetic code. many genes and biochemical pathways are conserved between species. generally, the more closely related the species are, the more closely related their genetic sequences are. alignment of the genetic sequence of the globin gene reveals the following differences: 0.08% among humans, 1.1% between humans and chimps, 1.5% between humans and gorillas, 1.6% between chimps and gorillas)
mating relationships
(called mating systems) are also shaped by natural selection
the degree of dominance
(the nature of the association between alleles in a given genotype) will determine the pattern of slection
hypothyroidism
(too little thyroid to function) can produce symptoms such as weight gain, lethargy, and cold intolerance
receptor tyrosine kinases:
1. inactive receptors exist as monomers. each has a ligand binding site, and A helix spanning the membrane, and an intracellular tail containing multiple tyrosine residues 2. binding of the ligand causes the monomers to dimerize 3. dimerization activates the tyrosine kinase region of each monomer. each tyrosine kinase adds a phosphate from an ATP molecule to a tyrosine on the tail of the partner monomer 4. the activated receptor is recognized by specific relay proteins inside the cell. each relay protein binds a specific phosphorylated tyrosine, inducing a conformational change that activates the protein. this induces a signal transduction pathway that leads to a cellular response
darwin's insight
1. individuals vary within populations 2. variants more or less suited to environment 3. differential survival and reproduction of individuals (variation is heritable) 4. favorable characters passed on, increase in frequency natural selection: differential success in reproduction results in certain alleles being passed to the next generation in greater proportions
three mechanisms leading to a skewed pattern of the x-chromosome inactivation in females
1. the normal, random process of X inactivation. maternally derived (blue) X chromosomes or paternally derived (purple) X chromosomes are inactivated at random independently in each cell early in embryogenesis 2. one X chromosome bears a mutation (green dot) that hinders cell survival in a particular tissue. the resulting selective disadvantage leads to a skewed pattern of X inactivation in mature tissue. 3. a mutation in the X-inactivation-specific transcript (XIST) gene results in the nonrandom selection of the X chromosome to be inactivated. the red arrows indicate the production of XIST RNA that spreads an inactivation signal up and down the X chromosome.
niko tinbergen identified four questions that should be asked about animal behavior
1. what stimulus elicits the behavior, and what physiological mechanisms mediate the response? 2. how does the naimal's experience during growth and development influence the response? 3. how does the behavior aid survival and reproduction? 4. what is the behavior's evolutionary history
epistasis occurs:
1. whenever two or more loci interact to create new phenotypes (e.g. plant pigments called anthocyanins) 2. whenever an allele at one locus masks the effects of alleles at one or more other loci (e.g. the malvidin pigment) 3. whenever an allele at one locus modifies the effect of alleles at one or more other loci (e.g. yellow kernels in corn)
the oldest fossils of eukaryotic cells date back
1.8 billion years
in a dihybrid cross YyRr, what is the probability of getting a genotype that is homozygous dominant for both traits?
1/16
What's the chances of getting YyRR in this dihybrid cross?
1/8
intracellular concentration Cl-
10 mM
intracellular concentration K+
140 mM
intracellular concentration Na+
15 mM
extracellular concentration Na+
150 mM
by _____, Mendel's paper had been
1900; rediscovered and his findings independently replicated by three different researchers
by _________, the parallels between Mendelian inheritance and
1902; chromosome behavior are well noted, giving rise to the chromosomal theory of heredity, under which Mendel's hereditary factors (genes) have specific loci
modern humans originated
195,000 years ago
planat pigments called anthocyanins
2 genes involved, C and P. dihybrid cross (CcPp) yields 9:7 phenotypic rations, either purple or white flowers. purple phenotype is the result of a 2 gene biosynthetic pathway. both genes must have a dominant allele in order to have a purple phenotype
for humans, the number of possible combinations is
2^23 or 8.4 million possibilities
small molecules act as 2nd messengers:
2nd messengers are water soluble molecules or ions that readily spread throughout the cell and activate cellular responses; 2nd messengers participate in pathways that are initiated by both GPCRs and RTKs
in humans, each somatic cell has
46 chromosomes, which are two chromosomes of each of 23 types
____% of above ground terrestrial plant productivity is consumed by herbivores
5-10
estimated actual number of species
5-100 million
in each of the five mass extinction events,
50% or more of marine species became extinct
fungi, plants, and animals began to colonize land about
500 MYA
the seminal vesicles produce
60% of the semen: yellowish mucus, protein, and fructose
larger and more diverse multicellular eukaryotes do not appear in the fossil record until
600 MYA - multicellularity in these lineages evolved independently, giving rise to plants, fungi, and animals
each sperm takes about _________ to develop
7 weeks
fossil evidence of early animals dates back to
710-560 MYA
the bottleneck effect - cheetahs
90-99% reduction in genetic variation compared to other cat species; populations bottleneck ~10,000 years ago
Conduction of action potentials:
Action potentials are initiated at the axon hillock and travel through the axon. Na+ influx during the rising phase depolarizes the neighboring region of the axon membrane, reaching threshold, and triggering an action potential. This process is repeated along the length of the axon, which results in the movement of the impulse from the cell body to the synaptic terminus. Inactivation of Na+ channels (refractory period) prevents backflow of information. Frequency of firing conveys the strength of the signal.
fragile XE mental retardation
FRM2 locus, normal (GCC)6-35, repeated sequence mutated (GCC)61-over 200
ovarian cycle (3)
FSH stimulates follicle growth (aided by LH)
Axon structure and conduction:
In invertebrates, continuous conduction is used. To increase speed, the diameter of the axon is increased. In vertebrates, saltatory conduction is used. Special cells called Schwann cells in the PNS and oligodendrocytes in the CNS insulate the axons using a lipid- rich, non-conducting myelin sheath. Voltage-gated ion channels are restricted to the gaps in the myelin sheaths, called nodes of Ranvier. Signal travels faster because fewer ion channels need to be activated and deactivated (120 m/sec).
Na+ and K+, moved by ion pumps, are key to the transmission of information
K+ and Na+ play an essential role in the formation of the membrane potential. K+ is higher inside the cell. Na+ is higher outside the cell. Sodium-potassium pumps maintain this gradient: Pump three Na+ out and two K+ in. Function by means of ATP hydrolysis. In addition, in a resting cell, Na+ channels are rarely open, but K+ channels are open. Thus, K+ flows out of the cell because of the chemical gradient and this stops because of the electrochemical gradient. (Ion channels have selective permeability.)
Action potentials are the signals conducted by axons:
Membrane potentials change when a neuron responds to a stimulus. Changes in membrane potential occur because of the opening of gated ion channels. When they open, ions flow across the membrane. Opening K+ channels increases the magnitude of the membrane potential (more negative; toward -90 mV): hyperpolarization. Opening Na+ channels decreases the magnitude of the membrane potential (more positive; toward +62 mV): depolarization.
the law of independent assortment
Mendel derived the law of segregation by following a single character. the F1 offspring produced in this cross were monohybrids, heterozygous for one character. a cross between such heterozygotes is called a monohybrid cross. mendel identified the law of independent assortment (his second law of inheritance) by following two characters at the same time. crossing two true-breeding parents differing in two characters produces dihybrids in the F1 generation, heterozygous for both characters.a dihybrid cross, a cross between F1 dihybrids, can determine whether two characters are transmitted to offspring as a package or independently
glial cells
Most neurons require supporting cells called glial cells. Glia: Nourish neurons. Insulate axons. Regulate the extracellular fluid surrounding neurons. Sometimes replenish certain neurons and transmit information. In the mammalian brain, there are 10 to 50 times more glia than neurons.
neuron cell body
Most of a neuron's organelles, including the nucleus, are in the cell body. The cell body along with branched extensions, called dendrites, receive signals from other neurons. A neuron has a single axon, which transmits signals to other cells.
major differences between spermatogenesis and oogenesis
S: all four products of meiosis develop into mature gametes O: cytokinesis during meiosis I and II is unequal, with almost all the cytoplasm segregated to a single daughter cell. thus, meiosis results in only one gamete S: occurs throughout adolescence and adulthood O: mitotic divisions are completed before birth, and the production of mature gametes ceases around 50 years of age S: gametes are produced from precursor cells in a continuous sequence O: developmental arrest leads to long interruptions in gamete production
in allopatric speciation involving vicariance,
a geographic barrier emerges that splits the ancestral population, and the two populations diverge
clade
a group of species that includes an ancestral species and all its descendants; can be nested in larger clades, but not all groupings of organisms qualify as clades
the bulbourethral glands produce
a secretion that neutralizes acidity in the urethra
in allopatric speciation involving dispersal,
a source population disperses to a geographic isolated area, and diverges over time
balancing selection leads to
a state called balanced polymorphism
signal
a stimulus transmitted from one organism to another
MyoD
a transcription factor that binds to specific control elements in the enhancers of target genes, driving gene expression. These targets are: other muscle-specific transcription factors (activate genes and proteins such as actin and myosin), MyoD (positive feedback maintain the cell's differentiated state)
nervous system example
a tropical cone snail surveys the environment, determines the presence and location of a fish, and initiates an attack
regulation of skeletal muscle contraction:
action potentials triggered by the motor neuron (via acetylcholine release) sweep across the muscle fiber and into it along the transverse tubules (T tubules are infoldings of the plasma membrane). this initiates the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum
receptors on the cell membrane
activate a signal transduction pathway that produces an intracellular signal or "2nd messenger". this signal or signal cascade alters gene expression and/or acts on cytoplasmic proteins to generate a response
phospholipase C
activated and cleaves the phospholipid PIP2, into DAG (another 2nd messenger that activates PKC) and IP3
when LTP is being established
activity at nearby synapses depolarizes the membrane of the post-synaptic cell. The NMDA receptor is unblocked (1), and responds to glutamate. This allows an influx of Ca2+ and Na+ (2), and the influx of Ca2+ induces the insertion of AMPA glutamate receptors into the membrane (3)
circulatory adaptations
adaptations that regulate the extent of blood flow near the body surface or that trap heat within the body care
mass extinctions can pave the way for
adaptive radiations by eliminating so many species
spermatogenesis occurs throughout
adolescence and adulthood
adrenal glands
adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex
gastrulation in humans
after cleavage, the embryo is called blastocyst (mammalian blastula); the trophoblast (outer epithelium) begins implantation within the endometrium; the inner cell mass divides into the epiblast and the hypoblast; the epiblast will form the embryo; the hypoblast will form the yolk sac; a primitive streak forms, and cells invaginate; when complete, cells on the outside will form the ectoderm and cells on the inside will form the mesoderm and endoderm; cells from the trophoblast, epiblast and endometrium form the placenta
neuronal plasticity
after embryogenesis, connections ebtween neurons can be modified. this capacity is called neuronal plasticity. much of this reshaping occurs at synapses. Connections between neruons can be strengthened or weakened in response to activity. the strength of the post-synaptic response can be strengthened or weakened in response to activity. in this way, circuits that link information are maintained whereas those that lack context are not
crossing over during prophase I
after interphase, sister chromatids are held together by cohesins; in early prophase I, the two pairs of homologous chromosomes loosely but precisely associate along their length (loci match up); enzymes create breaks in the DNA; a zipper-like synaptonemal complex holds one homolog tightly to the other (At which point the homologs are in synapsis), and DNA breaks are closed such that non-sister chromatids join. (a paternal chromatid is joined to a piece of maternal chromatid beyond the crossover point, and vice versa and crossover points are visible as chiasmata); at least one crossover event per chromosome is required for a homologous pair to migrate together to the metaphase I plate
genomic equivalence
all cells within an individual contain the same DNA
cell theory
all living organisms are composed of cells; all cells only arise from other cells
sensory processes
all sensory processes begin with a stimulus or stimuli. Sensory receptors convert stimulus energy to a change in membrane potential, thus regulating the output of action potentials to the CNS. Decoding of this information in the CNS results in sensation, which can yield a reflex or a more elaborate process. Basic functions common to sensory pathways: (1) sensory reception (2) transduction (3) transmission (4) perception
gene pool
all the alleles of all loci in all individuals in a population at one time
speciation can occur in two ways
allopatric speciation and sympatric speciation
direct mutual fitness benefit
allow animals to cooperate; i.e. foraging in groups, group defense, reproducing in groups
poikilotherms
allow their body temperature to vary with their environment
genomic imprinting
also called parent of origin effects. variation in phenotype depending on which parent passed along the alleles for those traits. involves the silencing of certain genes depending on which parent passes them on
alleles
alternative versions of a gene
hamilton's rule
an altruistic act will be favored when the indirect fitness benefits (rb) are greater than the direct fitness costs (c)
biological community
an assemblage of populations of various species living close enough for potential interaction
synaptic signaling
an electrical signal traveling across a nerve cell induces the release of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine...) into a synapse, stimulating the target cell, such as muscle or nerve cell
disturbance
an event, such as a storm, fire, flood, drought, or human activity that changes a community by removing organisms from it or altering resource availability
sickle cell disease
an example of a recessively inherited disorder. affects one out of 400 African-Americans. the disease is caused by the substitution of a single amino acid in the hemoglobin protein in red blood cells. symptoms include physical weakness, pain, organ damage, and even paralysis
theory
an explanation that is broader in scope that a hypothesis, is supported by a large body of evidence, and generates new hypotheses
posterior pituitary
an extension of the hypothalamus; hypothalamic axons reach into the posterior pituitary and secrete neurohormones synthesized in the hypothalamus
autopolyploid
an individual with more than two chromosome sets, derived from a single species
mutualistic symbiosis or mutualism (+/+ interaction)
an interspecific interaction that benefits both species; can be obligate or facultative
The Voyage of the Beagle
as a boy and into adulthood, Charles DArwin had a consuming interest in nature. Darwin fist studied medicine and then theology and CAmbridge University. After graduating, he took an unpaid position as naturalist and companion to Captain Robert FitzRoy for a 5-year around the world voyage on the Beagle. During his travels, Darwin collected specimens of South American plants and animals. He observed that fossils resembled living species from the same region, and living species resembled other species from nearby regions. Darwin though that the eath was more than 6,000 years old. His interest in geographic distribution of species was kindled by a stop at the Galapagos Islands west of South America. He hypothesized that species from South America had colonized the Galapagos and speciated on the islands.
examples of how we use plant secondary metabolites
atropine (belladona) - pupil dilator digitalin (foxglove) - heart medicine menthol (eucalyptus) - cough medicine morphine (poppy) - pain reliever salicylic acid (willow) - aspirin quinine (cinchona) - anti-malarial polyterpenes (rubber tree) - rubber pyrethroids (chrysanthemums) - insecticides caffeine (coffee) - coffee nicotine (tobacco) - tobacco cocaine (coca) - cocaine
skeletal muscle
attached to bones. striated. voluntary: motor neuron input produces action potentials
evolution by natural selection:
attributes the unity of life to the descent of all organisms from an ancestor that lived in the remote past; descendants of the ancestral organism lived in various habitats, and those population gradually acquired modifications, or adaptations, that fit them to their specific ways of life, thus explaining the diversity of life
how does auxin promote growth?
auxin stimulates proton (H+) pumps in the plasma membrane, thus increasing membrane voltage and decreasing pH; this activates expansins that break bonds between cellulose microfibrils and other call wall components; the increased ion concentration in the cell causes the osmotic uptake of water and an increase in turgor, resulting in the elongation of the cell; auxin also alters gene expression and cell components are produced; the most important auxin is indoleacetic acid (IAA)
paraphyly
based on shared ancestral characters
monophyly
based on shared derived characters
Mendel discovered ________ by breeding garden peas in carefully planned experiments
basic principles of heredity
random fertilization
because of independent assortment and crossing over, variation in the genetic composition of the pool of gametes of an individual is immense (in humans, independent assortment by itself can result in millions of different chromosomal combinations); as a result of gamete diversity, the somewhat random nature of fertilization (a post meiosis event) creates additional variation
cytotoxic T cells
become activated by helper T cells (not shown). their receptors then specifically bind an antigen on MHC I molecules on the surface of an infected cell. this is assisted by the accessory protein, CD8. effector proteins like perforin disrupt the plasma membrane of the infected cell and triggered apoptosis.
integration of sensory information
begins in the sensory receptor cell by summation
prey display many defensive adaptations
behavioral defenses include hiding, fleeing, forming herds or schools, self-defense, and alarm calls; also have morphological and physiological defense adaptations
2ry oocyte
beings meiosis II but this is arrested at metaphase
sorting
beneficial alleles are favored by natural selection, whereas deleterious ones are removed. thus, and in contrast to all other forces, the outcome of natural selection is not random
three key variables in an altruistic act
benefit to the recipient (B), cost to the altruistic (C), coefficient of relatedness (the fraction of genes that, on average, are shared, r)
interfering with pattern formation has devastating consequences
between 1957 and 1961, the thalidomide was used to alleviate nausea and morning sickness in pregnant women; but thalidomide interfere with axes formation in the developing fetus, leading to death and malformation; 50% mortality; limb deformation in the survivors
interspecific competition
between members of different species
intraspecific competition
between members of the same species
semelparity
big-bang reproductive; reproduce once and die
molecular basis of the response to ethylene:
binding of ethylene to its membrane receptor, ETR1, inactivates CTR1; inactivation of CTR1 (a negative regulator), activates the membrane protein, EIN2; EIN2 acts through a second messenger to activate the transcription factor, EIN3; EIN3 turns on the genes that produce ethylene's effect in the cell
cortical reaction
binding of sperm to the egg activates a signal transduction pathway that triggers the release of Ca2+ into the cytosol from the ER; this causes cortical granules in the egg to fuse with the plasma membrane, and the contents of these granules clip off sperm-binding receptors and cause the fertilization envelope to form; takes less than 1 minute, and is the slow block to polyspermy
neutralization
binding to viral proteins, thus preventing infection of a host cell. toxins can also be neutralized
IP3
binds to Ca2+ channels in the endoplasmic reticulum, opening them; Ca2+ flows into the cytosol, activating various proteins and inducing signal transduction pathways and cellular responses
density-dependent populations
birth rates fall and death rates rise with population density
the 4 factors that determine population size
births, deaths, immigration, and emigration
change in population size =
births- deaths; or births + immigrants - deaths - emigrants
the zygote divides to become a
blastocyst and moves down the oviduct
prezygotic barriers
block fertilization from occurring by impeding different species from attempting to mate, preventing the successful completion of mating, hindering fertilization if mating is successful
blood pressure and flow velocity:
blood flows from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. arterial pressure is greatest during ventricular systole (systolic pressure; felt as a pulse) and lowest during ventricular diastole (diastolic pressure). the total cross-sectional area of the capillaries is much greater than that of the arteries, which results in a decrease in pressure and flow velocity at the locations of chemical exchange
blood vessel structure and function:
blood vessels contain a central lumen lined by an endothelium. the diameter of capillaries is slightly greater than an RBC, and the endothelium is surrounded by a basal lamina. this is where chemical exchange takes place. the endothelium of arteries and veins is surrounded by a layer of smooth muscle and a layer of elastic connective tissue. the walls or arteries are much thicker than those veins, and recoil between contractions, maintaining blood pressure.
photoreceptors and the response to light:
blue light photoreceptors (e.g. cryptochromes) and phytochromes to detect the presence, intensity, wavelength and direction of light; blue light photoreceptors drive phototropism, the opening of the stomata, etc; blue light activates phototropin, leading to the redistribution of auxin and phototropic curved growth; phytochromes drive seed germination, de-etiolation, flowering, and shade avoidance; red light activates the response and far-red light represses it, with the last exposure determining the effect
stability and fluctuation
both weather and predator population can affect population size over time. Example: the moose population on Isle Royale collapsed during a harsh winter, and when wolf numbers peaked
populations are described by their
boundaries, size, and changes in size
control of breathing:
breathing is an involuntary process. neurons in the medulla oblongata form a pair of "breathing control centers" that establish the breathing rhythm. these centers use a negative-feedback mechanism to prevent overexpansion of the lungs. they also use the pH of blood and other fluids to determine the rate of breathing. increase in CO2 concentration decreases the pH
animals with effective chemical defense often exhibit
bright warning coloration, called aposematic coloration (predators often avoid them)
food webs
can be simplified by: grouping species with similar trophic relationships into broad functional groups (e.g. phytoplankton); isolating portions of the web that do not interact much with the rest of the web
pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells)
can give rise to many, but not all, cell types. they are partially differentiated
disruptive selection
can increase variation by favoring extreme phenotypic values even if the mean of the distribution does not change
B cells
can only present the antigen that they can specifically bind, and they do so via the following sequence: A helper T cell becomes activated, the T helper cell activates a B cell, and the B cell produces thousands of (1) plasma cells that secrete antibodies, and (2) memory cells
sexual reproduction
can shuffle existing alleles into new combinations; in organisms that reproduce sexually, recombination of alleles is more important than mutation in producing the genetic differences that make adaptation possible
mimic octopus
can take the appearance of more than a dozen marine animals; used to approach prey as well as to scare predators
recessively inherited disorders are more common than dominantly inherited disorders because
carries of recessively inherited disorders are phenotypically normal
the history of the earth since life first appeared has been marked by
cataclysms and dramatic changes in chemistry and temperature
small populations
causes relatives to mate with each other
cell differentiation
cells become specialized: structure and function
cell division
cells divide by mitosis
gastrulation in frogs
cells from the animal pole invaginate to form a crease (blastopore); the part above the crease is the dorsal lip; cells from the animal pole begin to spread over the outer surface; the blastopore extends around both sides and moves downward as more cells invaginate. the blastocoel shrinks; cell layers are determined
organogenesis: neurulation in frogs
cells in the dorsal mesoderm associate into a cylinder called the notochord. this holds the place of the future vertebral column; the notochord send inductive signals to the above ectoderm to form the neural plate; the neural plate rolls itself into a neural tube that runs along the A/P axis. this eventually becomes the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord); cells just above the neural tube become the neural crest. they migrate and become peripheral nerves, teeth, skull, and other cell types; simultaneously, strips of mesoderm lateral to the notochord separate into blocks of tissue called somites. these define segmentation of the embryo, and become vertebrae, ribs, and muscle (the notochord disappears before birth)
fate mapping
cells undergo determination, which differentiation; to study this process, it is useful to trace differentiated cells back to their origins in the embryo, which can be done by marking embryonic cells using dyes; adult C. elegans are composed of exactly 959 somatic cells, and the developmental origin of each cell has been determined; development includes 131 apoptotic events
tree branches can be rotated around a branch point without
changing the evolutionary relationships
ecological species concept
characterizes species in terms of their ecological niches. it applies to sexual and asexual species and emphasizes the role of disruptive selection
homologous characters
characters present in a group of species due to shared ancestry.
analogous or homoplastic characters
characters present in certain species that have evolved independently (convergent evolution)
shared ancestral characters
characters shared beyond the taxon we are trying to define
brassinosteroids
chemically similar to the sex hormones of animals; induce cell elongation and division
secondary metabolites
chemicals that are not used for cellular metabolism. instead, they are involved in long term survival (i.e. attract pollinators, repel predators); they are frequently stored in the central vacuole; humans use them as fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, pharmaceuticals, and recreational chemicals
gastrulation in chickens
chickens have a huge amount of yolk; the embryo is formed from cells of the epiblast; the bypoblast forms part of the sac that surrounds the yolk; during gastrulation, a primitive streak forms along the midline of the blastoderm; at this location, epiblast cells migrate inward and down to form the cell layers
apoptosis process involves
chopping up the DNA, organelles and other cytoplasmic components; blebbing (cell shrinks and becomes lobed); scavenger cells digest the blebs
thin filaments
composed of two coiled actin strands
neutral variation
conferring no selective advantage or disadvantage; mutations to genes can be neutral because of redundancy in the genetic code
circadian clocks (also known as biological clocks/circadian rhythms)
continuously oscillate in constant conditions with a period of approx 24 hours. run at about the same speed regardless of temperature, even in cold-blooded animals and plants. usually synchronized to the daily light/dark cycle of exactly 24 hours.
nervous control of muscle tension:
contraction of a muscle fiber is a brief all-or-none twitch. contraction of a whole muscle is graded; the extent and strength of the contraction can be altered. the nervous system accomplishes this by: varying the number of muscle fibers that contract and varying the rate at which muscle fibers are stimulated. each branched motor neuron may synapse with many muscle fibers, but each fiber is controlled by only one motor neuron. when a motor neuron produces an action potential, all the muscle fibers in its motor unit contract as a group. the strength of contraction depends on the number of muscle fibers the motor unit controls. as more motor neurons are activates (recruitment), the force (tension) developed by a muscle increases
vasoconstriction
contraction of smooth muscle, via endothelin
homeotic (Hox) genes
control pattern formation; regulate the development of anatomical structures; mutations in Hox genes can result in, for example, abnormal placement of structures
medulla and pons
control physical functions (e.g. breathing and circulation) and large scale body movements
sympathetic division
corresponds to arousal and energy generation (fight or flight); most nerves exit the CNS midway along the spinal cord and form synapses just outside the spinal cord; NE
binding of sperm induces the
cortical reaction, where the enzymes catalyze changes in the zona pellucida, which functions as the slow block to polyspermy
transgenic plants
created by biotechnology by introducing specific genes; reduce world hunger and malnutrition (examples: insect-resisteant maize via the production of Bt pro-toxin, beta-carotene producing rice (golden rice) and cassava, tomato plants that are environmentally adapted to grow in salty soil); reduce fossil fuel dependency: bio fuels (examples: higher ethanol-yielding or insect-resistant switchgrass and poplar); produce pharmaceuticals (bioreactors)
maximize benefits, minimize costs (b-c)
crows eat molluscs called whelks but must drop them from the air to crack the shells; optimal flight height is correlated with fewer drops; result of a trade-off between energy gained (food) and energy expended
evolutionary relationships:
data on direct observations, homology, the fossil record, biogeography, and other sources can be used to infer the evolutionary relationships between species; these inferences are often depicted in the form of evolutionary trees
stabilizing selection
decreases genetic diversity and stabilizes the mean of a trait in population around a particular, usually optimal, value
vasoconstriction
decreases the transfer of body heat to the environment through conduction, convection, and radiation
passive immunity
defenses that arise from transferring antibodies from a person/organism that is immune to one that is not. trans-placental transmission of antibodies. passage of antibodies in breast milk. administration of anti-toxins (e.g. anti-venoms)
active immunity
defenses that arise when a pathogen infects the body and prompts a primary or secondary immune response. infection. immunization (vaccination)
phylogenetic species concept
defines a species as the smallest group of individuals that share a common ancestor, forming one branch of the tree of life. it applies to sexual and asexual species, but it can be difficult to determine the degree of difference required for separate species
the permian extinction
defines the boudnary between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic era 251 MYA. this mass extinction occurred in less than 500,000 years and caused the extinction of about 96% of marine animal species
if immigration and emigration are ignored, a population's growth rate (per capita increase) equals
deltaN/deltat = B-D
change in population size can now be written as
deltaN/deltat = rN
K-selection
density-dependent selection; selects for life history traits that are sensitive to population density
volume
determined by the amplitude of the wave. higher amplitude result in a higher frequency of action potentials.
testing genetic equivalence in animales
differentiated cells in animals usually do not replicate in culture, so, in frogs, researchers transplanted nuclei into enucleated eggs; when the nuclei came from a frog embryo, most eggs developed into tadpoles; when the nuclei came from a tadpole, most embryos died; conclusion: the nucleus contains all the information needed to create a new copy, but something in the nucleus changes as a cell differentiates
the spemann-mangold experiment
differentiation (e.g. neurulation) depends on interactions between cells, a process called induction; in 1921, Spemann and Mangold demonstrated the inductive activity of the dorsal lip of the early gastrula: Spemann's Organizer; later, it was found the the dorsal lip cells secrete chordin and noggin, which inactivate BMP-4 that is released in the ventral side of embryo. this allows the formation of the notochord and neural tube
phototropism
directs shoot growth toward the sunlight, and this results from differential growth of cells in different sides of the shoot; the cells on the darker side grow faster; in 1880, charles darwin and his son, francis, observed that light on the tip of a coleoptile is required for phototropism, yet the growth response occurs far from the coleoptile; activation of photoreceptors on the coleptile tip drives production of auxin, which is moved in a polar manner by transport proteins; when light strikes a coleoptile from one side, auxin moves down the shaded side and growth on that side is increased, thus bending the seedling toward the light; lateral redistribution of auxin is also involved in gravitropism; roots respond to auxin in the opposite manner. At high concentration, auxin slows growth on the bottom side of the root, and this in part mediated by ethylene. grows down
dysfunction in cell signaling pathways is a major cause of
disease
allantois
disposes of wastes in reptiles and in mammals it joins the embryo to the mother via the umbilical cord
hallmarks of adaptive immunity:
diversity and specificity: there is an immense diversity of lymphocytes and receptors, enabling the immune system to specifically detect pathogens it has never encountered. self tolerance: "self" components are not attacked. clonal expansion: cell proliferation triggered by activated greatly increases the number of B and T cells specific for an antigen. immunological memory: a stronger and more rapid response to an antigen that has been encountered previously.
after interphase (s phase) the diploid cell then
divides twice - meiosis I and meiosis II - yielding four haploid daughter cells
(spermatogenesis) stem cells originate from
division and differentiation of primordial germ cells in the embryonic testes
meroblastic
divisions can also be meroblastic, where the large amount of yolk prevents the cleave furrows from passing through it. this happens in birds, reptiles, and insects.
taxonomic groups
domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
the sliding-filament model of muscle contraction
during contraction, the thin and thick filaments slide past each other, powered by the myosin molecules.
male hormones regulate the formation of reproductive structures:
during development, the presence of testosterone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) directs the formation of sperm-carrying ducts and the degeneration of female ducts; in the absence of these hormones, the opposite is true
shaping the nervous system
during embryogenesis, nerons that do not reach an appropriate location undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis); half of the neurons formed in the embyro are eliminated; a developing neuron forms numerous synapses, and the activity of the neuron stabilizes some synapses and destabilizes others; by the end of embryonic development, more than half the synapses have been eliminated; this ensures effective circuitry
generation of B cell and T cell diversity
each person makes ~1 M different B cell receptors and ~10 M different T cell receptors, yet there are only ~20 K protein-coding genes in the human genome. diversity is created by VJ (light chain) and V(D)J (heavy chain; T cell receptor) recombination. example: a B cell receptor light chain is encoded by three components: a V segment, a joining (J) segment, and a C segment. The V and J segments encode the variable region. random linking of V and J segments providethe diversity. this linking remains for the lifetime of the cell, and its progeny. For the B cell light chain, there are 40 V, 5 J and 1 C gene segments, so 200 different combinations. the heavy chain contains even more diversity.
competitive exclusion
early in 20th century, G.F. Gause did a number of experiments using two Paramecium species, P. aurelia and P. caudatum; when he grew the two species separately, each population displayed logistic growth; when he grew the two species together, P. caudatum became extinct in the culture; two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist permanently in the same place
cell signaling regulates
endocrine function, reproduction, growth, development, nervous system functions, immune system functions, circulatory system functions, metabolism
cell signaling occurs in multicellular organisms (example)
endocrine hormonal signaling (endocrine cell secretes into bloodstream, hormone travels through blood vessels to target cell)
birds and mammals are
endotherms
only the _____________ have regions that are homologous with corresponding regions of the chromosome
ends of the Y chromosome
plants are critical to energy flow in the ecosystem:
energy flows into an ecosystem as sunlight and ultimately leaves as heat, while chemical elements to life are recycled; photosynthesis converts light energy to the chemical energy of food
positive feedback
enhances the initial stimulus
ANS has three components
enteric division; sympathetic division; parasympathetic division
Cyclic AMP
epinephrine (1st messenger) binds GPCR; this activates a G protein (Gs); Gs activates adenyly cyclase, which converts ATP to cAMP (time ~100 ms; can amplify cAMP levels 20-fold in seconds); cAMP activates protein kinase A by binding regulatory subunits, thus releasing catalytic subunits; activated PKA phosphorylates other proteins, inducing a cellular repsonse; inhibitory GPCRs/G proteins block adenyly cyclase activity
a hormone can induce more than one effect example
epinephrine and the fight or flight response SEE GRAPH
termination of the signal: (example)
equally important as activation is the termination of the signal. this occurs when: the concentration of the signal (1st messenger) decreases, in the case of GPCRs when the G protein hydrolyzes its bound GTP to GDP, the enzyme phosphodiesterase converts cAMP to AMP, protein phosphatases inactivate phosphorylated kinases, receptors become desensitized via phosphorylation by G-protein receptor kinases, and receptors are internalized
semicircular canals
equilibrium
the theory of island biogeography
equilibrium number is intersection of immgration and extinction rates
apoptosis
essential for morphogenesis and other processes; in vertebrates, apoptosis disposes of: nerve cells that do not form synapses, auto-reactive immune cells (continues throughout adulthood), cells between the future digits, structures that are no longer needed (e.g., vestigial structures)
uterine cycle
estradiol secreted by growing follicles signal the endometrium to thicken, thus coordinating the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle with the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle; after ovulation, the estradiol and progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum stimulate maintenance and development of the endometrium, including the growth of arteries and endometrial glands (this begins the secretory phase); if an embryo is not implanted, low gonadotropin levels induce the corpus luteum to disintegrate. This decreases ovarian hormone levels, inducing the shedding of the endometrial lining (this begins the menstrual flow phase)
ovarian cycle (6)
estradiol stimulates a sharp increase in LH and FSH
ovaries
estrogens: stimulate uterine lining growth, promote development and maintenance of female secondary sex characteristics; progestins: promote uterine lining growth
ethylene: a gas that acts as a plant hormone
ethylene functions in three key areas: the triple response to mechanical stress, fruit ripening, leaf abscission, senescence (apoptosis)
reduced hybrid fertility
even if hybrids are vigorous, they may be sterile
allergies
exaggerated, hypersensitive, response to antigens called allergens.
inclusive fitness
explains cooperation between relatives; explains conflict in groups of unrelated individuals; explains why meerkats make risky alarm calls (turns out htye live in family groups); explains why male lions kill all of the offspring of females when they take over a pride (because they are not related to the cubs); explains why somatic cells of out body let the gametes have all the fun (because they are related); explains why disease more virulent when multiple serotypes infect the same host (because they compete with unrelated serotypes)
stability
extensive gene flow from outside the hybrid sone can overwhelm selection for increased reproductive isolation inside the hybrid zone
mammals underwent an adaptive radiation after the
extinction of terrestrial dinosaurs
evolutionary trends
extracting a single evolutionary progression from the fossil record can be misleading; apparent trends should be examined in a broader context. evolutionary trends do not imply an intrinsic drive toward a particular phenotype
extraembryonic membranes in amniotes
extraembryonic membranes are present in reptiles (including birds) and mammals; they evolved in response to reproduction in land; chorion: gas exchange; amnion: encases the fluid that protects the embryo; allantois: disposes of wastes in reptiles and in mammals it joins the embryo to the mother via the umbilical cord; yolk sac: encloses the yolk in the ehh of reptiles, and in mammals is a site for the early formation of blood cells; in amphibians and fish, only the yolk sac is present
inheritance of organelle genes
extranuclear genes (or cytoplasmic genes) are found in organelles in the cytoplasm. mitochondria, chloroplasts, and other plant plastids carry small circular DNA molecules. extranuclear genes are inherited maternally because the zygote's cytoplasm comes from the egg. the first evidence of extranuclear genes came from studies on the inheritance of yellow or white patches on leaves of an otherwise green plant. some defects in mitochondrial genes prevent cells from making enough ATP and result in diseases that affect the muscular and nervous systems. for example, mitochondrial myopathy and leber's heredity optic neuropathy
in males the Y is transmitted from
father to sons and the X from father to daughter
prolonged contraction can result in
fatigue because of (1) ATP depletion and (2) dissipation of ion gradients required from normal electrical signaling
directional
favors individuals at one end of the phenotypic range
stabilizing
favors intermediate variants and acts against extreme phenotypes
ants, bees, wasps (hymenoptera)
females help their mothers produce more sisters, and dont' reproduce themselves (why?) hamilton hypothesized that the reason was haplodiploidy. although we now know this isn't entirely true, it illustrates how kin selection works in principle;
the union of two gametes results in
fertilization
main stages of embryonic development:
fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation, organogenesis
evidence for allopatric speciation
fifteen pairs of sister species of snapping shrimp (Alpheus) are separated by the Isthmus of Panama formed and separated the Atlantic and Pacific waters
countercurrent exchange
fish use this to enhance the efficiency of gas exchange during ventilation
direct fitness
fitness from personal reproduction
a muscle twitch in a slow twitch fibers lasts
five times as long than in fast-twitch fiber (Ca2+ is pumped back to SR more slowly)
rubisco
fixes carbon in the calvin cycle of photosynthesis; constitutes 50% of all protein in a leaf; the most abundant protein on earth, and it catalyzes the most important reaction on earth
ovarian cycle (5)
follicle-produced estradiol rises steeply
pituitary gland (anterior)
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH): stimulate ovaries and testes; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): stimulates thyroid gland; adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): sitmulates adrenal cortex; prolactin: stimulates mammary gland cells; growth hormone (GH): stimulates growth and metabolic functions
the outer layer (ovaries) is packed with
follicles, each consisting of an oocyte (partially developed egg) and support cells
foraging
food-obtaining behavior, includes recognizing, searching for, capturing, and eating food items
sympatric speciation can also result from the appearance of new ecological niches
for example, the north american maggot fly can live on native hawthorn trees as well as more recently introduced apple trees. flies are diverging. flies that emerge from a given host generally return to mate and lay eggs on the same type of fruit. as apples mature more quickly than hawthorn fruit, apple-feeding populations now show temporal isolation from the hawthorn-feeding R. pomonella
the distribution of fossils and living groups reflect the historic movement of the continents
for example, the similarity of fossils in parts of south america and africa is consistent with the idea that these continents were formerly attached
tracheal systems:
for gas exchange, insects employ a tracheal system, which is a network of tubes that branch throughout the body. the largest tubes, the trachea, open to the outside. the smallest tubes, the tracheoles, extend to nearly every cell. this process is mostly independent of the circulatory systems
modification of crops
for thousands of years, humans have been modifying crop plants by selective breeding (artificial selection); modern maize was derived from teosinte (maize cannot spread its seeds); several crop plants were derived from the wild mustard plant; seedless fruits (reproduction problem means complete domestication)
vision: evolutionary conservation and eye spots
for vision, animals use photoreceptor cells that contain prigments that absorb light. light detectors in animals range from those that only detect the direction and intensity of light to those that form images. in animals, (1) the udnerlying mechanism for capturing light is the same, and (2) the genes that specify where and when photoreceptors arise is the same, suggesting a common evolutionary origin
gastrulation
formation of the germ cell layers and a primitive gut
central vacuole
functions in storage, and in the breakdown of wastes and macromolecules; enlargement is involved in plant growth; usually the largest compartment in a plant cell
ectotherms
gain most of their heat from external sources
what mendel called a heritable factor is what we now call a
gene
allopatric speciation
gene flow is interrupted or reduced when a population is divided into geographically isolated subpopulations. separate populations may evolve independently through mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. reproductive isolation may arise as a by-product of genetic divergence.
where might the exponential model apply
generally, it might apply in cases where limits to growth do not exist or have been removed (in the lab, in nature for short periods, newly established populations with few predators, invasive species, pest outbreaks, populations recovering from catastrophic declines, humans)
parents endow their offspring with coded information in the form of hereditary units called
genes
reduced hybrid viability
genes of the different parent species may interact and impair the hybrid's development or survival in its environment
during bottlenecks
genetic drift may have substantail effect on the population becuase allele frequencies in the population are likely to change just b random chance and many genes may be lost from the population, reducing the population's genetic variation
diploidy maintains
genetic variation in the form of recessive alleles hidden from selection in heterozygotes
the four haploid daughter cells are
genetically different
in sexual reproduction, the offspring are usually
genetically distinct
variation in genome size
genomes vary in size, number of genes, and gene density. most bacteria and archea have small genomes. qukarytoic genomes are genrally larger and more gene-rich; much larger variation in both size and gene number
adrenal cortex
glucocorticoids: raise blood glucose level; mineralocorticoids: promote reabsorption of Na+ and excretion of K+ in kidneys
the pancreas and the control of glucose levels in the blood:
glucose homeostasis relies on the antagonistic effects of two hormones produced in the pancreas: insulin (produced in beta cells) and glucagon (produced in alpha cells); when blood glucose increases, secretion of insulin triggers the cellular uptake of glucose, decreasing levels in the blood; when blood glucose decreases, secretion of glucagon promotes the release of glucose into the blood, thus increasing levels in the blood
in a synapse exhibiting LTP
glutamate activates AMPA receptors (1), triggering depolarization (2). This unblocks the NMDA receptors (3). Together, the AMPA and NMDA receptors trigger postsynaptic potentials strong enough to initiate action potentials without input from other synapses (4). This is considered to be one of the fundamental processes by which memories are stored and learning takes place.
blood pressure and gravity:
gravity assists blood flow to areas lower than the heart. to efficiently circulate blood to areas higher than the heart, like the brain, significant pressure is required
sister taxa
groups that share an immediate common ancestor
myosin molecules
have a globular head region and a long tail region. the heads jot out, and all the tails adhere together
cochlea
hearing
almost all X-linked genes are _________ in males with normal chromosomes
hemizygous
heterozygote disadvantage (underdominance)
heterozygote has lower fitness than either homozygote
when an allele is rare, it is found in
heterozygotes
type III
high death rate for the young and lower death rate for survivors; no parental care, many offspring, very small body size
pineal gland the rhythmic hormones, melatonin:
homeostasis can be modulated rhythmically; melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain, and regulates functions related to light and seasonality. it is secreted at night and promotes sleep. light inhibits its release. it regulates biological rhythms associated with reproduction and with daily activity levels. reproductive organs in some animals are seasonally controlled (by the length of the photoperiod). melatonin release is controlled by neurons in the hypothalamus
during interphase, __________________ are not associated with one another
homologous chromosomes
independent assortment of chromosomes
homologous chromosomes are randomly oriented during metaphase I. Thus, the first meiotic division results in each pair sorting its maternal and paternal homologs into daughter cells independently of every other pair (50% probability for each); this is called independent assortment, where each cell represents one outcome of all possible combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes
anaphase I
homologous chromosomes separate and move toward opposite poles. the sister chromatids remain paired
under inbreeding, there is increased
homozygosity for these recessive deleterious alleles
paracrine and autocrine signaling
hormones acting over short distances, or locally (examples are cytokines, growth factors, and prostaglandins); these signals promote growth, division and development, and modulate processes such as blood pressure, inflammation, nervous system function, and reproduction
anterior pituitary
hormones produced in the anterior pituitary control metabolic, osmoregulatory, and reproductive processes; hormone production in the anterior pituitary is controlled by releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones secreted by the hypothalamus; hypothalamic hormones are released near capillaries, and travel via the blood to the anterior pituitary; because anterior pituitary hormones can act on other endocrine glands, they form hormone cascade pathways
hypothalamus
hormones released from posterior pituitary (oxytocin and vasopressin); releasing and inhibiting hormones: regulates anterior pituitary
endocrine signaling
hormones secreted into the extracellular fluid by endocrine cells reach target cells via the bloodstream; maintains homeostasis, thus regulating blood pressure, energy metabolism, and solute concentration in body fuilds; functions in the response to environmental stimuli, reuglates growth and development, and triggers sexual maturation and reproductive processes
two amino-acid changes in the human FOXP2 were positively selected during recent human evolution
humans and chimpanzees differ in the expression of the FOXP2 gene, whose product turns on genes involved in vocalization. differences in the FOXP2 gene may explain why humans but not chimpanzees communicate by speech. the FOXP2 gene of Neanderthals is identical to that of humans, suggesting they may have been capable of speech
taste in mammals
humans and other mammal perceive five tases: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami. each taste receptor cell (a modified epithelial cell) can detect tastants representing only one taste. Taste receptor cells are organized into taste buds, and each bud has cells that detect all five tastes. receptors for sweet, umami and bitter are GPCRs. the receptor for sour is a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel (an ion channel). the receptor for salty is a sodium channel (Detects the Na+ in NaCl)
Cholera toxin
humans become infected when they ingest water containing the bacterium, Vibrio cholera; in the intestine, cholera toxin enters the crypt cells and modifies a G-protein so that it cannot hydrolyze GTP, thereby irreversibly activating adenylyl cyclase, leading to constantly high levels of cAMP; ions are massively secreted into the lumen of the intestine, and water follows. this results in acute diarrhea and vomiting
ovarian cycle (1)
hypothalamus releases GnRH
disorders of the thyroid
hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, lack of iodine, thryoid hormone deficiency
cytoplasmic determinants
if cytoplasmic determinants are not properly distributed at the first cleavage, the totipotency of early embryonic cells is lost; in many organisms the first cleavage is asymmetrical, and totipotency is lost; in most mammals, totipotency is retained till the 8-16 cell stage
fusion
if hybrids are as fit as parents, there can be substantial gene flow between species. if gene flow is great enoguht, reproductive barriers weaken and the parent species can fuse into a single species
negative assortative mating
if the phenotype is under genetic control, negative assortative mating increases heterozygosity for the genes affecting the trait; on average heterozygotes increase if dissimilar genotypes are pairing
population differentiation
imagine you randomly sample from 7 'populations' of 20 yellow and green peas, choosing a small number of peas (say 10) each time to start your new 'population' and rebuilding them each time in proportion to the initial sample. over time, your populations will be very different
ethylene and fruit ripening
immature fruits are generally tart, hard and green, which protects them from predators; when the seeds have fully developed they ripen, and this attracts the animals that disperse the seeds; in many cases, a burst of ethylene in the fruit triggers the ripening process; breakdown of cell wall components softens the fruit, and the cconversion of starches and acids to sugars makes it sweet; ethylene triggers ripening, and ripening triggers more ethylene production; the signal spreads from fruit to fruit
sex
in humans, the rate of point mutations is ~5X higher in sperm than eggs, so dads contribute most harmful mutations
axis formation: bilateral symmetry
in many species (not humans), the A/P axis is determined prior to fertilization by the uneven distribution of substances in the cytoplasm including specific mRNAs, proteins, and yolk (stored nutrients); in the egg of the frog, a concentration of dark pigment granules at one pole (the animal pole), and a concentration of yolk at the other (the vegetal pole) make this uneven distribution of substances clearly visible; (in mammals, no polarity is obvious until after cleavage); in frogs, the D/V axis is established by rearrangement of the cytoplasm and the formation of the gray crescent; after fertilization the plasma membrane and cortex rotate (cortical rotation) toward the point of sperm entry (always in the animal pole) forming the gray crescent; the center of the rotated animal pole defines the anterior of the embryo; the grey crescent defines the dorsal side of the embryo; once the A/P and D/V axes are set, L/R axis is fixed-by the first cleavage, which bisects the grey crescent
the circadian clock and the sun defines the time-compensated sun compass:
in monarch butterflies and some birds, migratory patterns are dictated by the position of the sun relative to the time of day. the relative time of day is maintained by the circadian clock. for example, monarchs migrate southwest for the winter. if the clock of a monarch is shifted 6 hours by maintaining it in an artificially lit chamber, when released outside the monarch's migration will be off by 90 degrees.
smell in humans
in olfaction, sensory cells are neurons. olfactory receptor cells line the upper portion of the nasal cavity and send impulses to the olfactory bulb of the brain. the receptor cells extend cilia into the mucus and when an odorant binds, it activates a GPRC called an odorant receptor (OR). cAMP opens Na+ and Ca2+ channels, depolarizing the membrane. Signals are transmitted to the brain, and olfactory inputs are integrated into single sensations.
species with a large impact
in rocky intertidal communities of western North America, the relatively uncommon sea star Pisaster ochraceus preys on mussels such as Mytilus californianus, a dominant species and strong competitor for space
Chemical synapses: metabotropic receptors
in some chemcial synapses, the receptor that binds and responds to the NT is a matabotropic receptor. this receptor activates a signal transduction cascade that involves a second messenger. compared to the response of an ionotropic receptor, these responses are slower but last longer
developmentally programmed polyploidy
in some somatic cells, though, polyploidy increases the metabolic capacity of a tissue. hepatocytes and placental TGCs often provide nutrients and metabolites, whereas megakaryocytes can be viewed similarly as a stockpile of components needed to generate platelets
egg activation and cleavage (example)
in some species, like sea urchins and humans, division is uniform across the embryo; in others, like frogs, cleavage is asymmetric; for sea urchins, humans, and frogs, divisions are holoblastic, as the cleave furrows passes entirely through the cell
promiscuous
in some species, mating is promiscuous, with no strong pair-bond or lasting relationships
area effects
in the 1960's, two ecologists (MacArthur and Wilson) tested the predictions of the species-area relationship on different island chains; these as well as other studies have shown that z is usually between 0.2 and 0.4
natural selection can only improve a structure
in the context of its current utility
processing of visual information begins in the retina:
in the dark, rods and cones are depolarized and continuously release the neurotransmitter, glutamate. some bipolar cells depolarize and others hyperpolarize in response to the presence of absence of glutamate. when light strikes the rods and cones, they hyperpolarize and stop releasing glutamate. signals from rods and cones travel to bipolar cells and then to ganglion cells. signals also travel to other photoreceptor cells via horizontal cells and bipolar cells. when a photoreceptor is activates, horizontal cells inhibit distant photoreceptors and bipolar cells that are not illuminated. this is called lateral inhibition, and sharpens edges and gives you contrast. lateral inhibition is repeated by amacrine cells, at the level of the ganglion cells. The information recieved by a single ganglion defines the receptive field. the smaller this field, the sharper the image.
smooth muscle
in the walls of hollow organs (GI tract, blood vessels...). not striated (thick filaments are scattered). involuntary: contract either via stimulation from the autonomic nervous system or without nervous input.
the heart rhythm:
in vertebrates, the heartbeat originates within the heart. auto-rhythmic cells clustered in the sinoatrial (SA) node function as the pacemaker. this node produces electrical impulses that travel across the heart via gap junctions in cardiac muscle. impulses from the SA node trigger atrial contraction, and 0.1 sec later the atrioventricular (AV) node fires, contracting the ventricles.
limbic system
includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and parts of the thalamus; generating and experiencing emotion often requires the interaction between the limbic system and other regions of the brain; the amygdala is the most important structure involved in memory
mate showiness due to mate choice can
increase a male's changes of attracting a female, while decreasing his chances of survival
synthetic androgens
increase muscle mass by enhancing male 2ry characteristics; they also wreck havoc on the bodies of both men and women
observations -> inferences of evolution by natural selection
individuals in a population vary in thier heritable characteristics, and organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support -> individuals that are well suited to their environment tend to leave more offspring than other individuals, and over time, favorable traits accumulate in the population
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
induces the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
phenotype is the product of
inherited genotype and environment influences. some phenotypic differences are determined by a single gene and can be classified on an either-or basis. other phenotypic differences are determined by the influence of two or more genes are vary along a continuum within a population
botox
inhibits acetylcholine release
endoderm
inner layer of embryo; epithelial lining of digestive tract and associated organs (liver pancreas); epithelial lining of respiratory, excretory, and reproductive tracts and ducts; thymus, thyroid, and parathyroid glands
gene flow - insecticides
insecticides have been used to target mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and malaria; alleles have evolved in some populations that confer insecticide resistance to these mosquitoes; the flow of insecticide resistance alleles into a population can cause an increase in fitness
vision: compound eyes
insects and crustaceans ahve compound eyes composed of many ommatidia, each with its own lens. Each ommatidium detects light from a small portion of the visual field, and together, the compound eye is very effective in detecting movement. information gathered from different intensities of light entering the ommatidia from different angles is used to form a visual image with each ommatidium giving a slightly different view. Insects have excellent color vision, and some can see into the UV spectrum
amacrine cells and horizontal cells
integrate information
Neurons in the brain
integrate the information. Most neurons in the brain are interneurons, which form local circuits in the brain.
social behavior
interactions with kin and conspecifics
species are groups of actually or potentially
interbreeding populations, which are reproductively isolated from other such groups
in sexual reproduction, fertilization can be
internal or external
Segmental duplications
intra-chromosomal and inter-chromosomal duplications are depicted for human chromosome 22q. Each horizontal line represents 1 Mb. the chromosome sequence is oriented from centromere to telomere
termination of hormonal signals:
intracellular termination of the hormone: degradation of the hormone, inhibition of transduction; extracellular degradation of the hormone: in the liver, spleen, blood, lymph; removal of the hormone: excretion via the kidneys
defensive mutualisms
involve species that receive food or shelter from their partners in return for a defensive function
gastrulation in seas urchins
involves cell migration and invaginantion; poles: the blastula has an animal pole and a vegetal pole. the animal pole will give rise to the anterior side and is less yolky; 1. mesenchyme cells migrate inward from the vegetable pole 2. cells at the vegatable plate invaginate into the blastocoel 3. cells form the archenteron (future digestive tract) 4. fusion of the archenteron with the blastocoal wall forms the digestive tube
signal transduction is a multi-step process:
it functions via the activation of proteins by the addition or removal of phosphate groups, and/or the release of 2nd messenger molecules; serine/threonine kinases (phosphorylation cascade; protein phosphatases dephophorylate and inactivate kinases); Cyclic AMP, Ca2+, IP3; allows for amplification; allows for tight regulation
for a pathogen, the internal environment of an animal is a wonderful place
it is full of nutrients, it is protected from outside sources, it is a means of transportation, it is climate controlled
vertebrate circulatory systems:
it is often called the cardiovascular system. arteries carry blood from the heart to organs throughout the body. within organs, arteries branch into arterioles, which branch into capillaries. capillaries, which form capillary beds, are thin and microscopic vessels with porous walls. this is where chemical exchange takes place. on their way back to heart, capillaries converge into venules, which converge into veins. the heart of vertebrates contains two or more muscular chambers. atria receive blood entering the heart. ventricles pump blood out of the heart. single circulation refers to hearts with two chambers: an atrium and a ventricle. The blood passes through two capillary beds, which significantly reduces blood pressure. double circulation refers to hearts with two pumps. the first delivers blood to the oxygenating tissues. the second receives oxygenated blood and delivers it to the internal tissues.
an organism's phenotype include
its physical appearance, internal anatomy, physiology, and behavior
acrosomal reaction
jelly coat on egg chemically attracts swimming sperm; sperm comes into contact with the egg, and enzymes released from the acrosome digest the jelly coat; the acrosomal process elongates, penetrates the coat, and binds to specific receptors on the egg; the sperm and egg fuse thier plasma membranes, and the sperm nucleus enters the egg cytoplasm; rapidly, ion channels on the egg open, sodium flows in, the membrane depolarizes, and this prevent polyspermy
CYP2D6
known to be involved in adverse reactions to or decreased drug effects of many drugs: antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, opioids, amphetamines, and anticancer drugs (e.g. tamoxifen). many alleles, and variation across different human subpopulations
respiratory structures tend to be
large and thin
segmental duplications
large blocks of 10-300 kilobases that have been copied to another region of the genome
scaffolding proteins
large relay proteins to which several other relay proteins are simultaneously attached; enhances the speed and accuracy of the signal transfer
too little GH
leads to pituitary dwarfism, where the person is small but properly proportioned
in development, thyroid hormone deficiency
leads to retarded skeletal growth and poor mental development (called cretinism)
experience and learning:
learning is the modification of specific behaviors based on experience. learning involves the formation of memories by specific changes in neuronal connectivity
ion channel receptors
ligand-gated ion channels are membrane receptors containing a region that acts as a gate for ions when the receptor changes shape; at the level of the synapse between two nerve cells, ion channel receptors activated by neurotransmitters allow the influx of ions, triggering an electrical signal that propagates down the length of the cell; some ion channels are controlled by electrical currents instead of ligands, and are called voltage-gated ion channels
light reactions require
light and water
the eye detects light, the brain sees: sensory tranduction
light energy strikes a rod, shifting a single chemical bond in retinal, activating rhodopsin. active rhodopsin activates transducin (g protein). transducin activates phosphodiesterase. phosphodieterase hydrolyses cGMP to GMP, thus closing Na+ channels in the plasma membrane. The membrane's permeability to Na+ decreases, and the rod hyperpolarizes. in rods and cones, the receptor potential triggered by light is hyperpolarization, not depolarization
within a chloroplast
light reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes and the calvin cycle occurs in the stroma
"typica"
light, peppered, recessive; cryptic against the "typical" backgrond
assortative mating
like genotypes mate with each other, or avoid each other
earth's early atmosphere
likely contained water vapor and chemicals released by volcanic eruptions (nitrogen, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, hydrogen)
the bottleneck effect- prairie chickens
loss of prairie habitat caused a severe reduction in the population of greater prairie chickens in Illinois; the surviving birds had low levels of genetic variation, and only 50% of their eggs hatched
type I
low death rate early and middle life and an increase in death rates among older age group; parental care, few offspring, territoriality, large body size
LDL
low-density lipoprotein ("bad cholesterol")
mammalian lungs
lungs are internal, localized respiratory organs. a system of branching ducts conveys air to lungs located in the thoracic cavity
cytogenetic maps
made using methods like chromosomal banding; indicate the positions of genes with respect to chromosomal features
fertilization
male and female gametes unite, passing genes from both parents to their offspring
lizards
male side-blotched lizards have either blue, orange, or yellow throat; each olor is associated with a specific strategy for obtaining mates; orange-throat males are the most aggressive, "usurpers", and defend large territories; blue-throats defend small territories and guard females; yellow-throats are nonterritorial, mimic females, and use "sneaky" strategies to mate; the success of each strategy depends on the frequency of all of the strategies; this drives frequency-dependent selection
mammals (XX/XY) sex determination means that
males and females differ in the number of copies of sex linked genes in cells (females =2; males = 1)
mammalian breathing
mammals employ negative pressure breathing, pulling air into the lungs. this is accomplished via the action of the diaphragm and rib muscles. tidal volume is the amount of air inhaled and exhaled with each breadth. the tidal volume during maximum inhalation is the vital capacity. residual volume is the amount of air that remains after forced exhalation. because of the residual volume, each inhalation mixes fresh air with oxygen-depleted air
cellular defenses and the lymphatic system:
many cellular defenses involve the lymphatic system. some macrophages reside in the lymph nodes, where they phagocytose pathogens. dendritic cells migrate to the lymph node after they encounters pathogens, and stimulate adaptive immune responses
ethylene and fruit ripening (at a commercial level)
many fruits are ripened in special chambers where ethylene levels are enhanced; many fruits are prevented from ripening by enhanced ventilation and increased CO2 (slows ethylene synthesis), or by the addition of scrubbers and absorbents that remove ethylene; plants are being genetically engineered such that ethylene production is inactivated, and thus, the fruits cannot naturally ripen. the fruits are then picked when green, transported to the site of sale, and exposed to exogenous ethylene to induce ripening
opsonization
mark bacteria for phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils. this leads to additional antigen presentation.
hybridization
mating two contrasting, true-breeding varieties
the study of the origin of species can be approached through the study of the
mechanisms that give rise to reproductive isolation
types of sensory receptors
mechanoreceptors (touch and hearing), chemoreceptors (taste and smell), electromagnetic receptors (vision - photoreceptors and electrical fields), thermoreceptors (heat), pain receptors (extreme conditions)
synapsis of homologous chromosomes (comparison of mitosis and meiosis)
mitosis: does not occur meiosis: occurs during prophase I along with crossing over between nonsister chromatids; resulting chiasmata hold pairs together due to sister chromatid cohesion
role in the animal or plant body (comparison of mitosis and meiosis)
mitosis: enables multicellular animal or plant (gametophyte or sporophyte) to airse froma single cell; produces cells for growth, repair, and, in some species, asexual reproduction; produces gametes in the gametophyte plant meiosis: produces gametes (in animals) or spores (in the sporophyte plant); reduces number of chromosome set by half and introduces genetic variability among the gametes or spores
number of divisions (comparison of mitosis and meiosis)
mitosis: one, including prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase meiosis: two, each including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase
number of daughter cells and genetic composition (comparison of mitosis and meiosis)
mitosis: two, each genetically identical to the parent cell, with the same number of chromosomes meiosis: four, each haploid (n); genetically different from the parent cell and each other
the oogonia divide by ____ to yield _________
mitosis; primary oocytes
classes of local regulators
modified fatty acids such as prostaglandins; polypeptides such as cytokines and growth factors; amines such as serotonin; gases such as nitric oxide
blood pressure
modulated by cardiac output and also modulated by the state of the smooth muscle of arterioles
morgan linkage experiment
morgan crossed flies that differed in traits of body color and wing size. from the results, morgan found that body color and wing size are usually inherited together in specific combination. he noted that these genes do not assort independently, and reasoned that they were on the same chromosome. however, nonparental phenotypes were also produced. morgan discovered that genes can be linked, but the linkage was incomplete, as evident from recombinant phenotypes. morgan proposed that some process must sometimes break the physical connection between genes on the same chromosomes. that mechanism was the crossing over of homologous chromosomes.
how ecologically similar species co-exist: character displacement
morphological similarity and use of resources tend to be more divergent in sympatric populations of two species than in allopatric populations of the same two species; an example is variation in beak size between populations of two species of Galapagos finches
oxygenation of the planet
most atmospheric oxygen (O2) is of biological origin. by about 2.7 billion years ago, O2 began accumulating in the atosphere and rusting iron-rich terrestrial rocks. this "oxygen revolution" approximately 2.7 to 2.3 billion years ago caused the extinction of many prokaryotic groups. some groups survived and adapted using cellular respiration to harvest energy
are biological communities at equilibrium (traditional view)
most biological communities are in a state of equilibrium ("balance of nature" view); community functions as an integrated unit; following a disturbance, the community will bounce back
increasing cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ induces
muscle concentration, secretion of molecules, cell division, and other processes
summation of twitches and fatigue
muscle contraction is also modulated by varying the rate of muscle fiber stimulation, by summation. for example, if a second action potential arrives before relaxation, the two add together resulting in greater tension. too high of a rate results in tetanus
two processes that produce the variation in gene pools that contributes to differences among individuals
mutation and sexual recombination
sources of genetic variation summary
mutation is common on a per gamete (or per genome) basis, but rare per gene; most mutations with phenotypic effects are deleterious (bad) and recessive (hidden); mutation had little effect on HW equilibrium alone, but provides the ultimate raw material for selection and evolution; mutation rates may be affected by sex, the environment, and physiological stress; sexual reproduction can shuffle existing alleles into new combinations
three mechanisms cause allele frequency change
natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow
amino acide tyrosine
needed for general protein synthesis. precursor for several NTs the hormone thyroxine, and the pigment melanin
hormone pathways involves in homeostasis typically invovle
negative feedback in order to maintain the pre-existing state
synaptic signaling
neurons from junctions, called synapses, with other neurons or muscle; neurotransmitters are released and bind to receptors on target cells; neurotransmitters are central to sensation memory, cognition, and movement
drugs that stimulate the reward system also involve dopamine
neurons that function in the reward system release dopamine at synapses; as addiction to drugs that affect the reward system develops, there are long-lasting changes to the reward circuitry, resulting in craving independent of pleasure; addictive drugs include alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and heroin
posterior pituitary hormones
neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus synthesize the two posterior pituitary hormones; oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH or vasopressin)
five conditions for non-evolving populations
no mutations, random mating (if not, then inbreeding occurs), no natural selection (if not, then natural selection occurs), extremely large population size (if not, then genetic drift occurs), no gene flow (if not, then gene flow or migration occurs)
the five conditions for nonevolving population are
no mutations, random mating, no natural selection, extremely large population size, no gene flow
are biological communities at equilibrium (current view)
nonequilibrium model: most biological communities are chance assemblages of species, not integrated units; following a disturbance, the community will change and not return to the original state
capillary function
not all capillaries receive blood at the same time. this is controlled by: constriction of dilation of supplying arterioles and precapyllary sphincters. the smooth muscle of precaplyllary sphincters is controlled by nerve impulses, hormones and chemicals (e.g. vasodilating histamine). there is a net loss of fluid at the capillaries, which is mediated by two opposing forces: blood pressure (out; strongest force) and osmotic pressure (in; because of blood protein content)
sequence census assays
novel assays that harness the quantitative power of high throughput sequencing technologies are vastly increasing our ability to understand genome function; RNA-seq for transcriptome profiling; PCR-seq for metagenomics; ChIP-seq for protein-binding sites
more than 99% of all species that ever lived are
now extinct
synonymous mutations
nucleotide changes that don't result in amino acid changes
S
number of species in the habitat
effect of island size on species number
number of species is higher on large island
varicose veins
occur when the veins stretch and the valves no longer work
the cretaceous mass extinction
occurred 65.5 MYA. organisms that went extinct include about half of all marine species an dmany terrestrial plants and animals, including most dinosaurs
adaptive evolution
occurs as the match between an organism and its environment increases; a continuous process (because the environment can change)
hay fever
occurs when plasma cells secrete IgE antibodies specific for antigens on the surface of pollen. these antibodies interact with mast cells, which secrete histamine and other inflammatory molecules, yielding the symptoms of allergy.
competition
occurs when species compete for a resource in short supply
autoimmune diease
occurs when the immune system is active against particular molecules of the body. lupus - histones. diabetes (type 1) - insulin producing B cells. rheumatoid arthritis - joint linings. graves' disease - TSH receptor. multiple sclerosis - myelin sheaths around axons
complete dominance
occurs when the phenotypes of the heterozygote are identical
pheromones
odorants used in communication between members of a species. in social insects, they maintain social order (maintains the castes). in other insects, they are used to attracted mates. in fish and mammals, they can serve as danger signals
abiotic synthesis
of small organic molecules such as amino acids and nucleotides
parental types
offspring with a phenotype matching one of the parental phenotypes
recombinant
offspring with nonparental phenotypes
intersexual selection
often called mate choice, occurs when individuals of one sex (usually female) are choosy in selecting their mates; selection may depend on the showiness of the male's appearance
white matter (brain)
on the inside and is made primarily of bundles axons
grey matter (brain)
on the surface and is made primarily of neuron cell bodies
genetic drift
one of the basic mechanisms of evolution- is the evolutionary equivalent of a sampling error;random changes in allele frequencies from generation to generation; the smaller the population, the more important drift is; genetic drift tends to reduce genetic variation through losses of alleles, can result in fixation of some alleles and loss of others; can produce differences between populations by sampling error alone; important concern for conservation of species endangered due to small population size
ectoderm
outer layer of the embryo; epidermis of skin and its derivatives (including sweat glands, hair follicles); nervous and sensory systems; pituitary gland. adrenal medulla; jaws and teeth; germ cells
gills
outfoldings of the body surface that are suspended in the water. their surface area is usually much greater than the rest of the body's exterior
reduce world hunger and malnutrition by improving nutritional traits
over 30 million people die each year from malnutrition and associated diseases. more than 250,000 children go blind each year because of vitamin A deficiency; cassava is a primary food for 800 million of the world's poor. transgenic cassava plants are bigger and have enriched levels of protein, iron, and beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor). they also have reduced levels of cyanide; transgenic rice called golden rice is rich in beta-carotene
directional selection
over time, directional selection causes a change in the mean value of a character in a population that is either higher or lower than its current mean value, resulting in a shift in the plot of trait frequency
sperm joins the egg in the
oviduct, resulting in fertilization
pituitary gland (posterior)
oxytocin: stimulates contraction of smooth muscle cells in uterus and mammary glands; vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH): promotes retention of water by kidneys, influences social behavior and bonding
nondisjunction
pairs of homologous chromosomes do not separate normally during meiosis. as a result, one gamete receives two of the same type of chromosome, and another gamete receives no copy. sometimes nondisjunction at meiosis I is called "true nondisjunction"
ectoparasites
parasites that live on the external surface of a host
endoparasites
parasites that live within the body of their host
parathyroid glands
parathyroid hormone (PTH): raises blood calcium level
inferring phylogenies using maximum parisomy
parsimony uses only those characters/sites that are informative (i.e. have the same character in at least two different sequences)
lost worlds
part organisms were very different from those now alive. the fossil record shows macroevolutionary changes over large time scales, for example: the emergence of terrestrial vertebrates, the impact of mass extinctions, the origin of flight in birds
1900: the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of heredity
particulate, no blending, inheritance. maintains variation because character variation is discrete (3:1, 1:2:1, etc)
local populations occupy
patches of suitable habitat surrounded by unsuitabl ehabitat; they can be lost through extinctions; can be recolonized by immigration
evasion of the immune system:
pathogens and their hosts are involved in an evolutionary arms race, where hosts evolve mechanisms to kill pathogens and pathogens evolve mechanisms to survive those responses. for example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is phagocytosed by macrophages, but is able to avoid degradation. instead, it replicates and kills this immune cell.
cellular innate defenses in vertebrates:
phagocytic cells use several types of receptors to recognize and destroy viruses, bacteria and fungi. examples are the toll-like receptors (TLR), which bind fragments of molecules normally absent from the vertebrate body but characteristics of a set of pathogens
classes of hormones
polypeptides such as insulin; cholesterol0derived steroids such as cortisol; amines (modified amino acids) such as epinephrine and thyroxine
the exponential model describes
population growth in an idealized, unlimited environment - not sustainable in the long term
exponential population growth
population increase under idealized conditions. under these conditions, the rate of increase is at its maximum, denoted as rmax (also known as intrinsic rate of increase) dN/dt = rmax*N
allee effects
positive effect of adding individuals at low densities; named after W.C. Allee; at some population sizes, growth rate increases with increasing density; potential mechanisms: problems finding mates at low densities and species that form groups (foraging success and predation avoidance)
estrogens and progestins
primarily produced in the ovaries; estrogens like estradiol maintain the female reproductive system and promote the development of 2ry female characteristics: breasts, widened pelvis, increases in body fat in certain areas (e.g. hips, buttocks, thighs); progesterone prepares and maintains the tissues of the uterus required for the growth and development of an embryo; these are components of hormone cascade pathways, controlled by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These are secreted in response to hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
androgens
primarily produced in the testes; the primary androgen is testosterone, which function before birth by promoting the development of male reproductive organs; at puberty, androgens promote the development of 2ry sexual characteristics: low voice, hair patterns, muscle, bone mass
primary oocytes
prior to birth undergo developmental arrest in prophase of meiosis I; resides within a small follicle
only mutations in cells that __________ can be passed to offspring
produce gametes
F2 generation
produced by the F1 generation self-pollinating
monosomy X/Turner's syndrome
produces XO females, who are sterile. it is the only known viable monosomy in humans
placenta
progesterone released by the corpus luteum initiates the growth of the placenta and the enlargement of the uterus; the placenta provides for the diffusion of nutrients, the disposal of metabolic waste, and gas exchange; in the second trimester of pregnancy the placenta takes over the secretion of progesterone, which maintains the pregnancy; at the end of the third trimester, oxytocin released by the posterior pituitary initiates labor
the corpus luteum continues to secrete
progesterone, which maintains the endometrium (in the 2nd trimester, the corpus luteum disintegrates and the placenta takes over this job); also produces high levels of estrogens, which shuts down the ovarian cycle
gibberellins
promote stem elongation; help seeds break dormancy and use stored reserves
during ejaculation, sperm are
propelled via a muscular vas deferens that extends around and behind the urinary bladder
meiosis I
prophase I, metaphase I, anaphaseI, telophase I and cytokinesis
meiosis II
prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, telophase II and cytokinesis
survival rate
proportion of individuals alive at age x surviving to age x+1
mortality (or death) rate
proportion of individuals of age x dying by age x+1
survivorship
proportion of newborns (age = 0) surviving to age x
diffusion is
proportional to the surface area across which it occurs. inversely proportional to the square of the distance the molecules must move.
endosymbiont theory
proposes that mitochondria and plastids (chloroplasts and related organelles) were formerly small prokaryotes living within larger host cells
caspases
proteases that drive apoptosis; in C. elegans, death signals inactivate Ced-9, thus activating Ced-4, which initiates the apoptosis pathway via Ced-3 (the chief caspase); C. elegans has ~1,000 cells, and apoptosis occurs precisely 131 times during development
effects of glucocorticoids
proteins and fats broken down and converted to glucose, leading to increased blood glucose; partial suppression of immune system
the species-area curve
quantifies the idea that, all other factors being equal, a larger geographic area has more species
if population increases by 25% between years, then the factor by which a population grows is
r = 0.25
optic nerve fibers, ganglion cells, bipolar cells
receive information
insulation
reduces overall heat exchange: blubber, hair, feathers; can often be adjusted to thermoregulate, and this can either be rapid or seasonal. momentary: raising hair or feather. seasonal (acclimatization): changes in the composition of the insulating layer or layers
negative feedback
reduces the initial stimulus
sensory adaptation
refers to a decrease in responsiveness following continuous stimulation
herbivory (+/- interaction)
refers to an interaction in which an herbivore eats parts of a plant or alga
predation (+/- interaction)
refers to interaction where one species, the predator, kills and eats the other, the prey
amplification
refers to the strengthening of a sensory signal during transduction, and may involve enzymatically produced 2nd messengers
the cambrian explosion
refers to the sudden appearance of fossils resembling modern animal phyla in the cambrian period (535 to 525); provides first evidence of predator-prey interactions
most Y-linked genes are
related to sex determination
interspecific interactions
relationships between species in a community; can affect the survivla and reproduction of each species, and the effects can be summarized as positive (+), negative (-), or no effect (0)
adaptive immunity (acquired immunity)
relies on the molecular recognition of pathogens using a vast aresenal of receptors, each of which recognize a feature typically found only on a particular part of a particular pathogen. the internal defenses elicited are active against a specific pathogen or closely related pathogens. this immune response is enhanced by prior exposure to the infecting pathogen. found in vertebrates.
duplication
repeats a segment
the fossil record
reveals changes in the history of life on earth; shows changes in kinds of organisms on earth over time; is biased in favor of species that existed for a long time, were abundant and widespread, had hard parts
cell wall
rigid outer layer that maintains the cell's shape and protects it from damage
photoreceptors
rods = monochrome and cones = color
structure of the human eye
rods are more sensitive to light but do not distinguish color. they are most useful at night. cones provide color vision, but are less sensitive to light (less useful at night). there are three types of cones, which are sensitive to red, green, or blue light, respectively. three different visual pigments, called photopsins, that absorb light at different wavelengths.
if fertilization happens, the corpus luteum
secretes estradiol and progesterone, maintaining the uterine lining during pregnancy
highly variable or unpredictable environment favor
semelparity
direction of information
sensory information arrvie into primary sensory areas of the cortex via the thalamus; once processed, information moves to the prefrontal cortex for decision making; then, for example, motor commands may be generated via the motor cortex
sensory transmission
sensory information travels through the nervous system as action potentials (nerve impulses). many sensory neurons transduce the energy in a stimulus into a receptor potential, which initiates an action potential that is transmitted to the CNS. Non-neuronal sensory receptor cells form chemical synapses with afferent neurons and respond to stimuli by increasing the rate at which the neuron initiates action potentials (NTs).
gonads and sex hormones
sex hormones are primarily produced in the gonads and affect growth, development, reproductive cycles, and sexual behavior; adrenal glands are minor producers of sex hormones; there are three major types of sex hormones: androgens, estrogens, progestins; sex hormones act via intracellular receptors
sympatric speciation via sexual selection
sexual selection can drive sympatric speciation. sexual selection for mates of different colors has likely contributed to speciation in cichlid fish in lake victoria
If a female is heterozygous for a particular gene located on the X chromosome,
she will be a mosaic for that character
advantages of pea plants for genetic study
short generation time, large number of offspring, many varieties with well-described characters (such as color), mating could be controlled, plants could be allowed to self-pollinate or could be cross pollinated
four categories of repetitive DNA
short tandem repeats, tandem repeats, segmental duplication, interspersed repeats
cell signaling can regulate the activity of proteins:
signal transduction following the binding of epinephrine to a GPCR induces the conversion of glycogen to glucose; amplification occurs in many steps. thus, a small number of epinephrine molecules can trigger a huge response
regulation of the response:
signaling pathways generally amplify the cell's response to a single signaling event; the many steps in a multistep pathway provide control points where the cell's response can be further regulated (this contributes to the specificity and allows for the coordination with other signaling pathways); the overall efficiency of the response is enhanced by the presence of scaffolding proteins; all signals are terminated
motor system
signals skeletal muscles for both voluntary and involuntary movements
generation time
single-celled organisms and viruses have many more generations per unit of time than larger ones
vision: single-lens eyes
single-lens eyes are found in vertebrates and some invertebrates. the light enters through a pupil that changes in diameter via the action of the iris. behind the pupil, a lens directs light onto layer of photoreceptors. In invertebrates like jellies, polychaete worms, spider and mollusks (e.g. octopus), as well as in fish, movement of the lens forward and backward focuses the light. In mammals and other animals, focusing is achieved by changing the shape of the lens
sister chromatid cohesion
sister chromatids resulting from chromosomes duplicating during interphase and are associated along their lengths
mammals only employ the ___________ to polyspermy
slow block
the oldest known fossils of multicellular eukaryotes that can be resolved taxonomically are
small algae that lived about 1.2 BYA
pheromones
small molecules released into the external environment, and function in the communication between members of the same species (in animals, pheromones act like hormones, and influence physiology and behavior)
in arteries and aterioles, contraction of
smooth muscle impacts blood flow
population cycles
some populations undergo regular boom-and-bust cycles. Example: lynx populations follow the 10-year boom-and-bust cycle of hare populations; driven by the availability of prey; when prey become scarce, predator species begin to prey on one another, accelerating the collapse of predator populations
apoptosis functions in the formation of
some three dimensional structures
endocrine (hormonal) signaling
specialized endocrine cells (sender cells) secrete hormones (insulin, glucagon, etc) into body fluids, often blood. hormones travel via the circulatory system and reach virtually all cells in the body, but are bound only by some cells (target cells)
neuroendocrine signaling
specialized neurons called neurosecretory cells secrete neurohormones, which enter the bloodstream; many neurohormones regulate endocrine signaling
resource partitioning
species evolve to minimize competition by "partitioning" their resources
(spermatogenesis) mitotic divisions give rise to
spermatogonia and then spermatocytes
multiplication rule
states that the probability that two or more independent events will occur together is the product of their individual probabilities; can be used to determine the genotype probabilities in a cross between F1 and monohybrids.
law of segregation
states that the two alleles for a heritable character separate (segregate) during gamete formation and end up in different gametes; thus, an egg or a sperm gets only one of the two alleles that are present in the somatic cells of an organism; this segregation of alleles corresponds to the distribution of homologous chromosomes to different gametes in meiosis
competitive exclusion principle
states that two species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist in the same place
induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS)
stem cells that have been created from adult differentiated cells. they were cerated by the introduction of four stem cell master regulators into the genome of the differentiated cell
feedback regulation: hormone cascade pathway
stimulus is recieved by a sensory neuron; the neuron stimulates a neurosecretory cell, which secretes a neurohormone; the neurohormone travels via the bloodstream to an endocrine cell, interacts with a receptor, and triggers the release of another hormone; that hormone interacts with a receptor on a target cell, which triggers a cellular response
"good genes" hypothesis
suggests that if a trait is related to male genetic quality or health, both the male trait and the female preference for that trait should increase in frequency
support cells of the developing follicle ________ the egg
surround
behavior enhances
survival and reproductive success in a population
in populations now experiencing immigration or emigration, two key factors determine changes in population size
survivorship and reproduction rates
"the pill"
synthetic estrogens and progestins that prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the production of GnRH, LH and FSH. Thus, the ovarian cycle does not take place
calvin cycle reactions
take place in the stroma; use ATP and NADPH to convert CO2 to the sugar G3P; return ADP, inorganic phosphate and NADP+ to the light reactions
process of continental drift
tectonic plates move slowly
fast twitch fibers develop
tension two to three times faster than slow twitch fibers
(male) negative feedback:
testosterone inhibits release of GnRH, FSH, and LH; inhibin inhibits release of FSH
similarities in cell signaling suggest
that ancestral signaling components that evolved in prokaryotes and single-celled eukaryotes were adopted for use in their multicellular descendants
the fossil record shows that most species
that have ever lived are now extinct
adaptive immunity:
the adaptive responses relies of two types of lymphocytes: T cells and B cells. lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow. those that mature there are B cells, whereas those that mature in the thymus are T cells. Any substance that elicits a B cell or T cel response is called an antigen, which is bound by an antigen receptor. Each antigen receptor binds only one part of one molecule of a specific pathogen, and all the receptors within a single B or T cell are identical. These cells exhibit specificity. The portion of the antigen that is bound by the receptor is called an epitope.
adrenal glands
the adrenal glands sit atop the kidneys, and are composed of two glands: the adrenal cortex (endocrine; on the outside) and the adrenal medulla (neuroendocrine; on the inside);
the fundamental unit of life in all organisms is
the cell
ovarian cycle (4)
the cells in the follicles begin to make estradiol (this begins the follicular phase, when follicles grow and oocytes mature; several follicles grow but usually only one matures; low levels of estradiol keep levels of FSH and LH in check)
the cerebral cortex controls voluntary movement and cognitive functions:
the cerebrum is the larges structure in the human brain; it is essential for language, cognition, memory, consciousness, and awareness of our surroundings; cognitive functions resdie in the cortex: the outer layer of the cerebrum; each side of the cerebrum has frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes; within the cortex are sensory, association, and motor areas
the calvin cycle uses
the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH to reduce CO2 to sugars
why are leaves green?
the chlorophyll molecules of chloroplasts absorb violet-blue and red light, which are the colors most effective in driving photosynthesis. They reflect or transmit green light, giving the leaves their color; they also reflect or transmit far-red light, which is at the extreme end of the visible spectrum)
the return of venous blood to the heart is assisted by
the contraction of smooth muscle, and during exercise, of skeletal muscle
fitness
the contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation
after ovulation, the ruptured follicle develops into
the corpus luteum
reproductive isolation
the critical issue is the reduction of gene flow between populations, so that populations can diverge in allele frequencies (by genetic drift or by natural selection) and become reproductively isolated; hybrids are the offspring of crosses between different species; the existence of biological factors (barrier) that impede two species from producing viable, fertile hybrids
menstruation
the cyclic shedding of the blood rich endometrium (lining of the uterus) which flows through the cervix and vagina; it is also called the uterine cycle and in humans averages 28 days
sensory reception
the detection of stimulus by sensory cells. sensory receptors can be: a sensory neuron or a non-neuronal cell that regulates a neuron. Sensory receptor cells exist: singly or collected in a sensory organ. Sensory cells recieve: stimuli from outside the body (heat, light, pressure, chemicals) or stimuli from inside of the body (blood pressure, body position)
arteries and veins are distinguished by
the direction in which they carry blood
systematics
the discipline that focuses on inferring the phylogenetic relationships of organisms and creating classifications based on their evolutionary histories
sickle cell anemia
the disease is caused by the substitution of a single amino acid in the hemoglobin protein in red blood cells. symptoms include physical weakness, pain, organ damage, and even paralysis.
development
the events involved in an organism's gradual changing from a simple to a more complex or specialized form
microevolution
the evolutionary processes that occur rapdily within populations and change thier genetic makeup from one generation to the next
microevolution
the evolutionary processes that occur rapidly within populations and change thier genetic makeup from one generation to the next
sperm must traverse this cellular layer (support cells) before reaching
the extracellular matrix of the egg, called the zona pellucida
conflict theory for genomic imprinting in pregnancy
the fetus is selected to extract more from the mother than the mother is selected to give. fetal tissue in the placenta can manipulate maternal physiology via hormone production. there are two main paths to increasing fetal provisioning: increase maternal blood pressure (-> pre-eclampsia) and increase the sugar concentration of maternal blood (-> pregnancy related diabetes). the father turns off genes that downregulate growth. paternally-expressed transcripts thus enhance growth. the mother turns off genes that upregulate growth. maternally-expressed transcripts thus inhibit growth. the normal state is an equilibrium in which both mother and offspring are in reasonably good condition.
how do we fight pathogens?
the first lines of defense seek to keep pathogens from entering the body. if a pathogen subverts these physical barriers then the body must detect such foreign invader and get rid of it. it must be able to differentiate self from non-self by means of molecular recognition. innate immunity. adaptive immunity
Jean Baptiste de Lamarck
the first to propose a coherent theory of evolution. 1st law: use and disuse leads to acquired traits. 2nd law: acquired traits can be inherited; these "laws" are unsupported by evidence
frequency-dependent selection
the fitness of any morph declines if it becomes too common in the population; another mechanism that can preserve genetic variation
fossil record
the fossil record documents the pattern of evolution, showing how past organisms differed from present-day organisms. it also shows that many species have gone extinct. the fossil record fills gaps in the "living" record
ABO blood group
the four phenotypes of the ABO blood group in humans are determined by three alleles for the enzyme (I) that attaches A or B carbohydrates to red blood cells: IA, IB, and i. the enzyme encoded by the IA allele adds the A carbohydrate, whereas the enzyme encoded by the IB allele adds the B carbohydrate; the enzyme encoded by the i allele adds neither
cardiac muscle
the heart. striated, involuntary: ion channels in the plasma membrane cause rhythmic depolarizations in the absence of nervous input. cells are electrically connected by intercalating discs
inherited disorders show quite variable frequency in different human populations due to
the historical geographic isolation of different human populations
processing of visual information continues in the brain:
the optic nerves from the left and right eyes meet at the optic chiasm near the center of the base of the cerebral cortex. axons are routed such that sensations from the left visual fields of both eyes are routed to the right of the brain and vice versa. so, the right and left visual fields involve input from both eyes. ganglion cell axons lead to the lateral geniculate nuclei, which have axons that reach the primary visual cortex
thomas malthus
the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man; inspired darwin
biogeography
the scientific study of the geographic distribution of species; accounts for geographic distance and continental drift
sickle cell anemia
the sickle-cell allele (b-globin; HBS) causes changes in hemoglobin that confers malaria resistance; heterozygotes are mostly resistant to malaria, and asymptomatic. homozygous recessive are severely anemic, and SCA is usually fatal before age of 5 without treatment; it exemplifies heterozygote advantage and balancing selection
pathogens can enter the body via:
the skin, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the urgoenital tract
in sexual reproduction, the male gamete is called
the sperm
genomics
the study of whole sets of genes, their products, and their interactions; a field that encompasses transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and various other -omics approaches
countercurrent exchange
the transfer of heat (or solutes) between fluids that are flowing in opposite directions. allows for heat exchange between arteries and veins that are traveling in opposite directions
communication
the transmission and reception of signals between animals, often has a role in the causation of behavior
P generation
the true-breeding parents
mass extinctions can change
the type of organisms found in ecological communities; for example, the percentage of marine organisms that were predators increased after the Permian and Cretaceous mass extinctions
gametes
the vehicles that transmit genes from one generation to the next in plants and animals that reproduce sexually
if a sperm penetrates the 2ry oocyte,
then meiosis II resumes, resulting in an egg and a polar body
signal molecules that cross the plasma membrane
these signals cross the plasma membrane and interact with a receptor in the cytoplasm of the target cell (ex: steroid hormones like testosterone or aldosterone, thyroid hormones, nitric oxide
signal molecule that are unable to cross the plasma membrane
these signals interact with a receptor on the cell membrane, which then transmits the signal to the interior of the cell. (ex: peptide hormones, biogenic amines like epinephrine, and amino acids)
the testcross
to determine the genotype we can carry out a testcross: breeding the mystery individual with a homozygous recessive individual. if any offspring display the recessive phenotype, the mystery parent must be heterozygous
shannon diversity index
to directly compare species diversity across communities (in time or space), we can use indices of diversity;
in the uterus, the blastocyst attaches
to the endometrium, which stimulated by estrogen, nourishes the embryo (pregnancy)
in some animals, all cells are close enough
to the outside environment that no dedicated respiratory structures exist
organisms have finite resources which may lead to
trade-offs between survival and reproduction
mutant phenotypes
traits alternative to the wild type
making transgenic plants
transgenes are inserted into Ti plasmid, and reinserted into the bacterium Agrobacterium; the Ti plasmid is transferred to the plant via infection with Agrobacterium; transformation is done on shoot or leaf tissue that forms a callus when grown on agar medium (alternately, the Ti plasmid can be electroporated into the plant)
helper T cells
trigger both humoral and cellular immune responses. become activated when their receptors specifically bind an antigen on MHC II molecules on the surface of an antigen presenting cell (macrophage, dendritic cell, B cell). This is assisted by the accessory protein, CD4
codominance
two dominant alleles affect the phenotype in separate, distinguishable ways. occurs when the phenotypes of both parents are simultaneously expressed in the same offspring
why does species diversity decrease as latitude increases?
two key factors in equatorial-polar gradients of species richness are evolutionary history and climate; evolutionary history: tropical environments tend to be older and the growing season is longer in the tropics, which means that biological time is faster; climate: two climatic factors (sunlight and precipitation, both high in tropical environments) are positively correlated with species richness
(oogenesis) each month,
typically one follicle matures and completes meiosis I, resulting in a secondary oocyte and a polar body
for most of human history, species were assumed to be
unchangeable
cooperation
under threat from a predator, individual meerkats make an alarm call to warn others, even though calling increases the chances that the caller is killed
inflammatory response
upon injury, histamine is released by mast cells in the connective tissue, dilating the capillaries and making them more permeable. this causes swelling. macrophages and neutrophils release cytokines that increase blood flow to the site of injury, resulting in redness and increased T. activated complement promotes further release of histamine, attracting ore phagocyctic cells. increased blood flow delivers additional antimicrobial peptides, and pus accumulates.
some times of aneuploidy appear to
upset the genetic balance less than others, resulting in individuals surviving to birth and beyond.
bombardment of earth by rocks and ice likely
vaporized water and prevented seas from forming before about 4 billion year ago
hearing
vibrating objects create pressure waves in the surrounding air. The ear tranduces this mechanical stimulus into nerve impulses that the brain perceives as sound. Moving air in the outer ear makes the tympanic membrane vibrate, and the three bones of the middle ear transit these vibrations to the oval window. When the stapes vibrates against the oval window, it creates pressure waves in the fluid inside the cochlea (inner ear). Pressure waves push on the cochlear duct and basilar membrane. The attached hair cells, which also attach to the tectorial membrane, vibrate up and down. With each vibration, the hair cells bend in one direction and then the others, causing ion channels in the hair cells to open and close. Bending in one direction depolarizes the cells, thus releasing more NTs. Bending the other hyperpolarizes the cells, thus reducing the release of NTs
five modes of communication
visual, chemical, tactile, auditory, electric
how are biological communities structured?
what factors determine how many species are there, which particular species are present, and their relative abundances? in general, a few species in a community exert strong control on that community's structure. two fundamental features of community structure are species diversity and trophic structure (feeding relationships)
example using the model of continuous growth:
what is the population size in 10 years? N0= 100, r = 0.1398, t = 10 years
modeling natural selection
you can build a simple population genetic model of how natural selection works at a single Mendelian locus. for example, AA, Aa, and aa could each be assigned different relative fitnesses, and you can study directional, stabilizing and diversifying selection in the easiest possible case