10- Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection

Question 1

What was Charles Darwin the first person to do?

Answer 1

Collect evidence and propose a sound theory for how animals evolve

Question 2

What does Darwin’s struggle for existence assume?

Answer 2

Potential population vastly outstrips environmental means for support

Question 3

3 places that the ‘struggle for existence’ occurs

Answer 3

1. Between individuals within species
2. Between species
3. With the environment

Question 4

What does the principle of ‘natural selection’ suggest?

Answer 4

Favorable variations and characteristics lead to those which are not so favorable

Question 5

3 essential conditions for natural selection

Answer 5

1. Variation
2. Selection
3. Inheritance

Question 6

Which evolution family tree are humans in?

Answer 6

Family tree of great apes

Question 7

What are chimps genetically closer to than what?

Answer 7

Chimps closer to humans than chimps are with gorillas

Question 8

4 lines of evidence for species mutability

Answer 8

Fossil records, common features of embryological development across species, physiological and cognitive similarities between animals, changes through selective breeding

Question 9

3 approaches to dating fossils

Answer 9

Relative dating, numerical aging, magnetism

Question 10

What is relative dating?

Answer 10

Putting geological events in order without knowing exact data

Question 11

What did discovery of ‘Lucy’ tell us?

Answer 11

That our ancestors started walking on 2 legs about 3 million years ago

Question 12

What is numerical aging?

Answer 12

Using an estimated date of a geological event to find a precise date of when a fossil lived

Question 13

What is an isotope?

Answer 13

Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons

Question 14

How does radioactive decay of elements occur in an isotope?

Answer 14

At a constant rate

Question 15

What happens in radioactive decay?

Answer 15

A change in number of protons and/or neutrons

Question 16

What is the atomic nucleus that decays called?

Answer 16

The parent isotope

Question 17

What is the product of decay called?

Answer 17

The daughter isotope

Question 18

How is exact age determined in numerical aging?

Answer 18

By the ratio of parent and daughter isotopes in a rock sample

Question 19

What does magnetism use?

Answer 19

Knowledge of changes in Earth’s magnetic field over time in order to date a fossil

Question 20

What has happened to Earth’s magnetic field in history?

Answer 20

It has reversed many times

Question 21

Where do small magnetic minerals point to in rocks?

Answer 21

Magnetic north

Question 22

What do changes in brain structure across vertebrates show?

Answer 22

Same brain parts become enlarged when overall brain size increases

Question 23

What are adaptations?

Answer 23

Characteristics of living organisms enable them to survive and reproduce successfully in environments where they live

Question 24

4 lines of evidence for adaptations

Answer 24

1. Making use of existing genetic variations
2. Using artificially produced variation
3. Comparative method
4. Adaptation through design

Question 25

2 examples of existing genetic variations

Answer 25

Light and dark forms of peppered moths, gull colonies and nesting locations

Question 26

What is lactose?

Answer 26

A protein found in milk

Question 27

When does lactose intolerance begin?

Answer 27

After weaning

Question 28

Why does lactose intolerance occur?

Answer 28

Due to decreasing levels of the enzyme lactase-phlorizin hydrolase

Question 29

Where did lactose tolerance emerge as an adaptation?

Answer 29

In ‘pastoralist populations’