Podcast script

DICHOTOMOUS KEY 3.1

Let’s start with the introduction of the dichotomous key.
A dichotomous key is a series of statements consisting of 2 choices that
describe characteristics of an unidentified organism in this case.

A dichotomous key provides a series of statements with two choices that will
eventually lead to the correct identification of an organism.
A simple example of this can be identifying 6 different pasta types.

Say I have 6 pasta types: spaghetti, Ziti, Penne Reigate, Rotelle, Farfalline, and
Campanelle.

We can use the shape as a key identifying factor since the shapes of the pasta
are largely different.

1. We’ll break this down into two, straight and not straight.
2. If the pasta is not straight we’ll test if it is hollow or not, if it is not we
know the pasta is spaghetti. However, if it is straight and hollow we test if it is
smooth or not if it is then it is ziti and if it isn’t it is penne Reigate.
3. Let’s go back to the 1st condition where the other option was the pasta
not being straight.
4. If the pasta is not straight well go to condition 4. Now well see if the
pasta is round or not, if it is, its rotelle whereas,
5. If it is not round well look at the lobes to whether it has 1 or 2, if it has 2
then it is farfalle and if it has 1 then it is campanelle.

This method identifies species by their scientific name, as each species has a
unique scientific name.

VARIATION 3.2

Now let’s move on to variation.

We’ll start with defining the term species.

Species - a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

And variation is the differences between individuals of the same species and
different species.
For genetic variations, we look at two observable features.

Phenotypes and Genotypes.

Phenotypes are defined as the observable and measurable characteristics of an

organism due to the interaction of the organism’s genes, environmental factors,
and random variation.

An example of genes of the organism interacting:

⁃ Say an organism has two different genes from both its parents for the
height trait, 1 gene is a tall gene (T) and another short gene (t).
⁃ This organism will be tall, short, or medium height. This is the phenotype
the visible characteristic.

An example of environmental variation is if two identical twins A & B, now say A

decides to colour her hair pink and decides to get a fake tan. Compared to B
she will look different and her genes aren’t changing but there is phenotypic
variation.

Now let’s discuss what a genotype is:

A genotype refers to the genetic code of the individual. This is all the information
that is found inside the individual cells. This is the genetic makeup that
determines the phenotype.

⁃ The genotype of an organism is the statement of alleles. An allele is one

of two or more versions of a DNA sequence.
- An organism could either have homozygous alleles or heterozygous alleles.

Let me elaborate on that.

A homozygous allele is where the two genes inherited from the parents are both
the same for example tt and TT.

A heterozygous allele is where the two genes inherited from the parents are
different for example tT and Tt.

INHERITANCE 3.3
Inheritance is the transmission of genetic information from one generation to the
next, leading to the continuity of the species and variation within it genes are
located on a chromosome where there is a DNA base sequence that codes for a
protein that controls a particular characteristic.

Inheritance relies on homologous chromosomes which come in pairs.

Each chromosome has genes, which are segments of DNA which carry the
genetic information for a specific trait, like eye colour.
⁃ And different versions of the same gene are called Alleles.

For example, brown eye colour and blue eye colour are alleles for the eye colour
gene.
And each parent offers one allele of a gene.
These alleles can either be dominant often referred to with a capital letter or
recessive referred to with the corresponding lowercase letter.

Let’s elaborate on dominant and recessive genes.

Dominant alleles show their effect even 9g the individual only has one copy of
the allele(a.k.a. being heterozygous), although having two copies of a dominant
allele will still leave you with its effects of it.
Aka being homozygous.

For example, the allele for brown eyes is dominant, therefore you only need 1
copy of the brown eye allele.

And if two alleles are dominant it is Called codominance and both are equally
expressed.

However recessive alleles only show their effect if the individual has two copies
of the allele aka being homozygous.

SHOW EXAMPLES OF HAEMOPHILIA AND BROWN-BLUE EYES.

SELECTIVE BREEDING 3.4

Selective Breeding is where humans select 2 animals with desired traits and
breed them trying to produce offspring with the desired traits of both parents.
Typically strains which are selectively bred ate domesticated. Over many
generations, the practice leads to the development of strains with the desired
characteristics.

Some examples of selective breeding are:

⁃ Intentionally mating 2 dogs to achieve or eliminate a specific trait.

⁃ A farmer saves seed from a hearty crop to replant the next year.
⁃ Dogs are bred for hunting or competition.
⁃ Cows can be bred to increase muscle mass or milk production.

►Dogs are a good example of selective breeding. Gamekeepers who hunted

birds for leisure in the 1800s wanted a dog that didn’t exist. So, they selectively
breed a mastiff and a bulldog to get the qualities that they wanted. Mastiffs were
big, strong & good companions, but they lacked in speed and aggression. The
bulldog however was aggressive and fast but lacked strength. The selective
breeding process eventually produced a bullmastiff which was large, quick,
strong, & aggressive
People selectively breed animals and plants to make animals grow bigger,
faster, prettier and stronger and plants grow bigger, faster, and prettier and
produce more crops.

►Benefits:
§Farmers can produce crops with higher yield
►More fruit or vegetables on a stalk
§Farmers can produce animals that grow more meat, more milk, more eggs,
faster & stronger
§Can produce friendlier and prettier pets

►Disadvantages:
§Loss of genes in a population
►By not allowing some animals to breed, their genes could be lost forever in a
population
►Take Hitler for example, he tried to kill all Jews, therefore, trying to eliminate
the genes and all Jews from the planet
§Animal discomfort
►Farmers breed cows to have large utters, so now some cows have difficulty
walking & have health problems
►Some chickens are too heavy to stand, so they have to lie down all the time
§Can lead to inbreeding
► To create a certain type of animal through selective breeding, sometimes
brothers & sisters of a population will mate to pass on favourable traits, and this
can lead to bad health problems for children of inbreeding

NATURAL SELECTION 3.5

There are 4 steps to natural selection

1. Overpopulation
2. Variation
3. Competition
4. Selection

OVERPOPULATION
Each species will produce more offspring that can survive to ensure the survival
of the species with the strongest individuals, as the stronger offspring will
survive and the weaker won’t.

VARIATION
A condition necessary for evolution to occur is variation in fitness of organisms
according to the state they have for a heritable character. Individuals in the
population with some characters must be more likely to reproduce, more fit.

Competition
In evolution (change through time) and natural selection, competition plays a
crucial role. It is the act of competing for resources in an ecosystem that brings
about competitive exclusion. Due to competition for the same limited
resource, species may evolve distinctively by reducing their niche overlap.

SELECTION
 individuals best adapted to their environments are more likely to survive
and reproduce. As long as there is some variation between them and that
variation is heritable, there will be an inevitable selection of individuals with the
most advantageous variations.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST