i need to definitions to the words
natural selection –
fitness –
selective pressures –
genome –
genotype –
phenotype –
inactivated –
evolve –
natural selection –
genetic variation –
gene pool –
inbreeding –
genetic variation –
directional selection –
stabilizing selection –
disruptive selection –
genetically modified organism (GMO) –
transformed –
1. Natural selection - the process by which certain traits or characteristics become more or less common within a population over time, based on the survival and reproductive success of individuals with those traits in their specific environment.
2. Fitness - the relative ability of individuals with certain traits or characteristics to survive and produce offspring in a specific environment, compared to others in the same population.
3. Selective pressures - external factors that influence natural selection, such as predation, competition, availability of resources, and environmental conditions.
4. Genome - all of an organism's genetic material, including both DNA and RNA.
5. Genotype - the genetic makeup of an individual, which determines its physical and behavioral traits.
6. Phenotype - the observable physical and behavioral traits of an individual, which are determined by its genotype and influenced by environmental factors.
7. Inactivated - rendered non-functional or inactive, usually through a genetic or chemical process.
8. Evolve - the process by which genetic variation can accumulate and change over time within a population, leading to the emergence of new traits and diversity.
9. Genetic variation - the differences in genetic material between individuals in a population, which provide the raw material for natural selection to act upon.
10. Gene pool - the total collection of genes and alleles present in a population at any given time.
11. Inbreeding - the mating of closely related individuals within a population, which can increase the frequency of harmful alleles and decrease genetic diversity.
12. Directional selection - a type of natural selection in which one extreme of a trait distribution becomes favored over others, leading to a shift in the average phenotype of a population over time.
13. Stabilizing selection - a type of natural selection that favors intermediate values of a trait, leading to reduced variation and a narrower distribution of phenotypes in a population.
14. Disruptive selection - a type of natural selection that favors both extremes of a trait distribution, leading to a bimodal distribution of phenotypes and increased genetic diversity.
15. Genetically modified organism (GMO) - an organism that has had its genes artificially altered through genetic engineering, to introduce or remove specific traits or characteristics.
16. Transformed - altered or modified in some way, often through genetic or chemical means.
natural selection –
Natural selection is a process by which certain traits or characteristics become more or less common within a population over time, based on the survival and reproductive success of individuals with those traits in their specific environment.
genetic variation
Genetic variation refers to the diversity of genetic information or traits that exist between individuals within a given population or species. This variation arises from differences in DNA sequences between individuals, which can be caused by mutations, genetic recombination, and other genetic mechanisms. Genetic variation is the raw material upon which natural selection acts, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments over time.
Imagine you are a scientist observing rats in the wild. As the rats reproduce, rats born with white fur slowly begin to outnumber rats with black fur. In three to five sentences, provide two or more different explanations of why the rats with white fur might be outnumbering the rats with black fur.
Pretend you are a scientist observing three different varieties of a single bird species that are part of the same population. In three to five sentences, describe what genetic variations exist in your population. Then, using reasoning skills and mock evidence from your observations, describe the impact these traits have on the birds’ relationships with their environment and predators.
Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding versus genetic modification. Why might a person choose to use selective breeding over genetic modification? Why might a person choose to create a GMO over a selectively bred organism? Use three to five sentences to formulate your argument.
Observing the rats with white fur outnumbering those with black fur could be explained by several factors. One possible explanation is that the white fur rats are better adapted to the current environment in terms of camouflage and are better able to avoid predators, leading to higher survival rates. Another explanation could be that the white fur trait is dominant and is being passed down from both parents, while the black fur trait is recessive and less frequent in the population, leading to a higher proportion of white fur rats over time.
In the population of three different varieties of birds, there could be genetic variations in terms of beak size and shape, coloration, wing length, and vocalizations, among others. Depending on the specific traits and their interactions with the environment, the birds may have different advantages or disadvantages in terms of feeding strategies, mating behaviors, and predator avoidance. For example, a bird with a longer beak may have an advantage in reaching food sources deep within flowers, while a brighter colored bird may be more easily spotted by predators.
Selective breeding involves intentionally mating individuals with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits, while genetic modification involves directly altering an organism's DNA using biotechnology. Selective breeding has been used for centuries and can result in changes in a population over time through natural selection. However, it is a slower and less precise process than genetic modification, which can create highly specific changes in an organism's genetics. A person may choose to use selective breeding for conservation purposes or to preserve the genetic diversity of a particular population, while they might choose GMOs for agricultural or medical applications that require highly targeted modifications.