Ks3 Genes Key Words

Genes

Amphibians

A class of animals that includes frogs, toads and newts. They are able to breath via lungs as well as gills.

Arthropods

An animal with an exoskeleton like spiders, centipedes and crabs.

Characteristic

A specific quality, trait or feature of an animal or thing.

Classification

Living organisms are classified into groups depending on their structure and characteristics.

Environmental Variation

Differences between individuals of a species due to factors in their surroundings.

Evolution

Theory that the animal and plant species living today descended from species that existed in the past.

Flowering Plants

A plant that contains a flower - for reproduction.

Gene

A &gene &is a section of DNA that is responsible for a characteristic like eye colour or blood group.

Generation

All of the offspring that are at the same stage of descent from a common ancestor: Mother and daughters represent two &generations.

Genetic Modification

The alteration of a gene for a desired outcome.

Genetic Variation

The difference in DNA between individuals due to their genes, which are passed down from parents.

Herbicide-resistant

A plant which is unlikely to be affected by a herbicide (a weed killer).

Invertebrates

An animal without a backbone.

Keys

A process of identifying species. A key will ask questions to identify features of the species in question.

Kingdoms

All living things can be categorised into a specific group. These 5 groups are kingdoms.

Mammals

For a living thing to be a mammal it must have lungs, fur, maintain their body temperature and give birth to live young.

Natural Selection

Process by which species change over time in response to environmental changes and competition for resources.

Offspring

The child/young of a living species.

Prokaryotes

A simple cell that does not have a nucleus the DNA is free in the cytoplasm.

Protoctists

A microscopic single celled organism.

Reptiles

For a living thing to be a reptile it must have lungs, dry scales, changing body temperature and lay eggs.

Selection Pressure

The factors that have contributed to have an advantage or disadvantage to survive in a given situation or location.

Species

A group of living things that have more in common with each other than with other groups.

Specification

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Survival of the fittest

Only the organisms that have the best characteristics for that particular environment will survive.

Variation

The differences within and between species.

Vertebrates

An animal with a backbone.