Unit 2 definitions

Suitably-prepared Petri dish: a suitably-prepared petri dish is a petri dish containing an agar with a single strain of
bacteria evenly distributed using a sterilized metal loop.

Totipotent stem cells: these are unspecialized cells that can give rise to any cell type including the extra embryonic
cells. Stem cells are capable of continuous division. They have no Hayflick limit.

Pluripotent stem cells: these are unspecialized cells that can give rise to most of the specialized cells except the extra
embryonic cells.

Allele: another form of a gene.

Stem cells: stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can give rise to other cells. They are either totipotent or
pluripotent. They have no limit for division.

Niche: the role of an organism within its habitat.

Species richness: the number of different species in a habitat/particular area.

Phenotype: phenotype shows the effect of the genotype and the environment on the organism.

Endemic: a species found in one geographical location.

Haploid number: half the number of chromosomes found in somatic cells.

Haploid nucleus: half the number of chromosomes found in the somatic cells. The nucleus is an organelle

Gene locus: the location of an allele on the chromosome.

Tissue: groups of similar cells working together to perform one specific function.

Genetic diversity: the number of different alleles in the gene pool of a species.

Anti-microbial properties: the ability to kill bacteria.

Crossing over: involves swapping of sections of (non-sister) chromatids producing new combinations of alleles.

Independent assortment: gives rise to new combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes.

Polygenic inheritance: when a single characteristic is determined by the cumulative effect of more than one gene.
The genes are located at different loci.

Organs: groups of tissues working together.

Molecular phylogeny: it involves the analysis of DNA and proteins to investigate the molecular similarities and
differences between the organisms. Organisms that share similarities in their characteristics are said to be closely
related and therefore placed in one group.