Biology Topic 6: Inheritance,

3. Advantages of reproduction (TRIPLE ONLY)

Advantages sexual Advantages asexual

variation and evolution Causes variation Only need 1 parent

If environment changes natural Energy and time efficient (fast)
selection can occur
Humans can selectively breed Lots of offspring can be produced
1.Keywords organisms for beneficial characteristics when conditions are good

Mitosis A type of cell division which create two Organisms that can use both • Malaria
identical daughter cells • Fungi
• Plants
Meiosis A type of cell division the create 4 unique
gametes
4. DNA structure (TRIPLE ONLY)
Gametes Sex cells eg sperm + egg and pollen + ovum
Nucleotide The monomer of DNA. Consists of a sugar, phosphate and a
Sexual Reproduction involving the fusion of gametes. base
reproduction Make unique offspring that resemble both
parents Base One of 4 different chemicals that make the triplet code.
AGTC
Asexual Reproduction involving only one parent. No
reproduction gametes fuse. Offspring are identical to parent Triplet code 3 bases in a row give a code for a specific amino acid

DNA Deoxyribose nucleic acid. Polymer made of 2

5. Protein synthesis and gene expression (HT TRIPLE ONLY)
strands forming a double helix. Contains the
instructions for an organism. Pairing of A 🡪 T T🡪 A
nucleotide G 🡪 C C🡪 G
Chromosomes Long strands of DNA found in the nucleus.
bases
Humans have 23 pairs
Transcription When the DNA is read and converted into messenger RNA
Gene A section of DNA which codes for a protein (mRNA)
Genome All the genes of an organism Translation When the mRNA is read by ribosomes and use to build the
amino acid sequence
Transfer RNA Carries the correct amino acid to the ribosome for the mRNA
2. Meiosis (tRNA) triplet code
1. DNA replication: chromosome number doubles Coding DNA DNA which codes for a protein, a gene

2. Cell divides: two cells now Non-coding DNA which does not code for a protein. Can be involved in
DNA turning on or off genes.
3. Those cells divide: four gametes now with half the number of
chromosomes Mutation A change to the DNA sequence. Most are harmless but some
can stop proteins working correctly
6. Genetic inheritance 9. Variation
Allele Different forms of the same gene. eg hair colour Variation Changes within a population. Caused by
mutation
Dominant When only one copy of the allele is needed to
show in the offspring Genetic variation Changes due to inheriting different alleles
of genes
Recessive When the allele only shows when there are two
copies Environmental variation Changes due to the effect the
environment has
Homozygous Two copies of the same allele
Heterozygous Two different alleles 10. Evolution
Genotype The set of genes in our DNA
Evolution The change in the inherited characteristics of a
Phenotype The outward appearance a set of genes
population due to natural selection. May result in
displays
a new species
Natural selection The process where the organism best adapted
7. Inherited disorders to the environment survives and passes on their
characteristics
Inherited disorders Disorders that are caused by inheriting faulty
Species A group of organisms with similar features which
genes from parents
can breed to make fertile offspring
Polydactyly A dominant inherited disorder which causes
Stages of evolution
extra fingers or toes to form
Cystic fibrosis A recessive inherited disorder which causes 1. Population shows variation due to their genes
sticky mucus to block air ways

2. Environment changes
8. Sex determination
3. Some individuals are best adapted and live longer
No of 23 pairs (22 normal, 1 pair of sex)
chromosomes in a
human 4. These can breed and produce more offspring

Male XY (50% chance)

5. Over a long period of time the offspring dominate the population

Female XX (50% chance)

Sperm Can hold Y or X chromosome so determine

gender of embryo
11. Selective breeding
Selective The ancient practice of artificially selecting
breeding animals and plants to breed together to create
certain characteristics
Inbreeding The consequence of too much selective
breeding. Can lead to disease or defects
Outcomes • Disease resistance in crops 3
of • Increased meat and milk production 1
selective • Domestication of pets
breeding • Large unusual flowers

12. Genetic engineering

4
Genetic The process of changing the genome by
engineering adding a desirable gene from another
organism
GM crops Genetically modified crops that are resistant
to disease or grow bigger crops. Controversial
2 5
to some

13. Process of genetic engineering (HT ONLY)

1 DNA containing desired gene removed from cell
2 Enzyme cuts out gene
3 Plasmid taken from bacteria
4 Plasmid cut by same enzyme
5 Plasmid and human gene joined by an enzyme
14. Cloning (TRIPLE ONLY)

Tissue cloning Using groups of cells from a plant

to grow a identical new plants
Cuttings Old fashioned simple method of
growing a new plant from part of
an old plant
Embryo Splitting apart unspecialised 1 3
transplant animal cells from an embryo and
transplanting them into host
mother
Adult cell cloning
2 4
1 Body cell taken from Sheep A

2 DNA removed

3 Egg taken from Sheep B

5
4 Nucleus removed

5 DNA and cell fused with electric

shock
6 Cell develops into embryo and 6
implanted into surrogate (c)
15. Theory of evolution (TRIPLE ONLY) 17. Fossils

Charles Darwin Proposed the theory of evolution in his book Fossil Remains of a plant or animal that were alive millions of
‘on the origins of species’ years ago. Found in rocks. Normally only the hard
parts
Darwin's theory • It challenged the idea that God made
took a long time all creatures Fossil formation • Parts of organisms that have not decayed
to be accepted • There was not enough evidence at the because one or more of the conditions needed
because: time for decay are absent
• Mechanism of inheritance was not • Parts of the organism are replaced by minerals as
understood for another 50 years. they decay
• Preserved traces of organisms, such as footprints
Jean-Baptiste Had a different theory about inherited
Lamarck characteristics. He believed they were What they tell us Early life was simple
acquired through the life of the parents. He As the fossils get newer the life becomes more
was wrong complex
Alfred Russell Independently came up with the idea of Why do we not • Early life forms were soft bodied so not fossils
Wallace evolution and natural selection at the same have a fossil for formed
time as Darwin. Worked on the idea of every living thing • Geological activity destroyed fossils
speciation
Speciation Formation of a new species as a result of
evolution 18. Extinction
Extinction When an entire species has died
Causes of 1. Disease
16. Understanding genetics (TRIPLE ONLY) extinction 2. New predators
Mid 19th century Gregor Mendel a monk who carried out 3. Famine
breeding experiments on plants. 4. Natural disaster (meteor, volcano)
Discovered the inheritance of
characteristics as ‘units’ 19. Resistant bacteria
Late 19th century Chromosomes observed MRSA A type of bacteria that has evolved to be resistant
Early 20th century Chromosomes linked to inheritance. to antibiotics
Genes discovered. How to prevent 1. Not prescribing antibiotic for viral and non-
Mid 20th century Structure of DNA discovered and the antibiotic resistance threatening infections
way genes code for proteins. 2. Completing the course of antibiotic given
3. Restricting the use of agricultural antibiotics
Today Antibiotic resistance provides real time
evidence of evolution in action
20. Classification of organisms

Carl Invented the groups we classify

Linnaeus organisms into
1. Kingdom
2. Phylum
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species
Binomial The official name of all organism
name consisting of genus and species
3 domain
system
Archaea Primitive bacteria normally found
in extreme environments
Bacteria True bacteria

Eukaryotes Plants, animals, fungi and protists