BASIC BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

Basic Biology Assignment

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BASIC BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

Forensics is a scientific method employed in the detection of crime. DNA in forensic science

is the process of using the biological evidence found at crime scenes to match the profiles of

suspects and victims. The biological evidence that is collected to be used in profiling includes

hair, saliva, semen, skin, and urine, although some are more useful than the others. DNA

fingerprinting creates a unique pattern for every individual which is used to match the person

from a database. Trace DNA allows the forensic experts to obtain the fingerprints from the

crime scene, however minute they may be using advanced techniques. The obtained

fingerprints are then subjected to a series of profiling tests to determine its pattern and the

matching individual is found. One of the more recent Developments in DNA forensic science

is the use of Non-Human DNA for analysis. It may include DNA from diverse species such

as common pets, plants, dirt and bacteria. Although it is a much harder process to determine

DNA from Non-Human samples, it has led to promising results.

According to the evolution theory, almost all organisms, from a common ant to a human,

share a common ancestor. However, millions of years of adapting to different climates and

habitats, natural selection, genetic drifting and hitchhiking has shown that only some species

survive while others die out. Evolution in microbial life is applicable in the field of medicine

and can help in the study the various diseases caused by the microbes and medicines for their

cure can be developed simultaneously. The study of evolution in the parasitic microbes from

basic hitchhikers to taking control over the host has helped develop immunization techniques

towards parasites. The study of microbial co-evolution has helped in the agricultural field in

developing new plant crossovers and in implementing new farming techniques to tend to

individual plant species.

Biological evolution is an evolutionary process which generates and maintains patters of

variations in different species and how they thrive under specific climatic conditions. The

study of biological diversity evolution has helped in producing superior species of a better
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quality of stock needed for research and improving the quality of food, medicines and

research technology. Genetic biodiversity is the different types and changes in genes only

within a particular species. A common example of this would be to consider a species of

chicken, which on evolution has dictated if they are Orpington, silkie, brahma or leghorn

among others. Ecological diversity on the other hand is the diversity in ecosystems and

natural habitats. This is illustrated by the fact that the forests of Colorado differ from the

forests of Maine. Study of this ecosystem biodiversity has helped ecologists maintain certain

species of plants that are specific to an area and has helped in boosting the forest area.

Plants and Animals have always been subjected to decreasing forest cover, pollution and

depletion in the natural resources. Hence they are constantly evolving to survive the

challenges and to emerge as a superior race in natural selection. Native plants found only in

certain areas have adapted to produce seeds and spores to grow in other places. Their study

has helped the agriculturalists produce harvests not native to their lands. Animals show a

more complex evolution than plants. Scientists have succeeded in genetically modify several

species to help in various projects such as decreasing the catfish population in several areas

that had been affected by their outburst. Babiana ringens is a particular plant species that has

evolved to mutate its flowers’ shape to allow birds to dip their beaks easily into the flowers

by growing a bird perch. This makes it easier for the birds to access the nectar and hence they

would prefer these plants helping in a rapid growth of the plants population.

Population growth can be defined as the increase in the population of individuals of a group.

It is usually calculated annually and varies for different species. For humans, currently, it

grows at a rate of 83 million or 1.1% every year. The study of increase of population growth

helps the scientists predict its advantages and disadvantages in the future years. Also the

rapid population growth of a particular species can lead to losses in the ecosystem, for

example the increase in the population of aphids, an insect leads to a worldwide economic
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loss on agriculture of $5.5 billion annually. With this information scientists can develop

methods to curb their growth.

A biome is a larger application of an ecosystem. While an ecosystem is a co-existence of

living and non living organisms, a biome can contain many ecosystems. It is classified by the

group of living organisms that occupy a specific area. Boundaries of a biome cannot be

specified and it varies with seasons. A forest biome can be of different types usually

classified as Boreal deciduous forests and temperate deciduous forests. They are a collection

of woody plants and living organisms containing several organic and medicinal quality

plants. These can help in providing a much larger cover in the industry and it has many real

life applications.
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References

1. Freckleton, D. (2000). Evolution of Biological Diversity. Biological Conservation,

96(1),

2. Hallatschek, O., & Nelson, D. (2010). LIFE AT THE FRONT OF AN EXPANDING

POPULATION. Evolution, 64(1),

3. Jammal, I. (1998). Population growth. Habitat International, 22(2), 206-208.

4. Kader, F., & Ghai, M. (2015). DNA methylation and application in forensic sciences.

Forensic Science International, 249, 255-265.

5. Rosenberg, E., Sharon, G., Atad, I., & Zilber‐Rosenberg, I. (2010). The evolution of

animals and plants via symbiosis with microorganisms. Environmental Microbiology

Reports, 2(4),