Glossary - Urban Evolution

Alleles: Alternative forms of the same gene.

Biological species concept: Species are groups of actually or potentially interbreeding populations, which are reproductively isolated from other such groups. This means that biological differences between species greatly reduce gene exchange among them, even without geographical isolation

Biome: The world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterised by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment

Bryophytes: Land plants that do not have vascular tissue, such as mosses, hornworts and liverworts.

Family: A taxonomic rank in biological classification. The hierarchy of the classification from general to specific is: Domain -> Kingdom -> Phylum -> Class -> Order -> Family -> Genus -> Species.

Gene flow: Exchange of genes between individuals from different populations through mating or otherwise

Genes: Stretches of DNA coding for proteins or RNAs as final products. Basic hereditary units of life.

Phenotypic: Concerning an organism's observable characteristics or traits

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen. ROS are a natural by-product of oxygen reactions. ROS levels can increase during times of environmental stress, which can cause significant damage inside cells.

Recombination: The mixing of parental genes during meiosis in gametes that creates novel genetic combinations in offspring.

Semi-natural habitat: A habitat where human-induced changes can be detected or that is human-managed, but which still exhibits biodiversity comparable to a natural habitat

Taxon: Term used to refer to a particular group of organisms. Can be used to refer to: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus or anything in between.

Xenobiotic: Substance found within an organism that is not naturally produced by or expected to be present within that organism