2. Evolution 1

Question 1

Fixed Action Pattern

Answer 1

Innate motor response in response to an environmental stimuli that can carry to completion without continuing environmental stimuli.

Question 2

Sociobiology

Answer 2

Focused on application of evolutionary theory to social behavior. Study of evolutionary and ecological aspects of human and non-human social behavior.

Question 3

W.D. Hamilton

Answer 3

Role of inclusive fitness

Question 4

E.O. Wilson

Answer 4

Wrote the textbook “Sociobiology” and discovered role of group selection

Question 5

Richard Dawkins

Answer 5

Coined the term “selfish gene” which states that the more genetically alike two organisms are the more they benefit from selfless behavior.

Question 6

Special Creation Theory

Answer 6

God created a continuous and infinite series of life forms and all organisms were created in their present form relatively recently and have remained unchanged since.

Question 7

Issue with Special Creation Theory

Answer 7

It ignores extinction, apparent changes in organisms physiology over time, time series of species appearance, and relatedness of species.

Question 8

Carolus Linnaeus

Answer 8

Swedish botanist from 1700s

First to organize species into a taxonomy (hierarchical classification)

Created binomial nomenclature

STILL believed in special creation

Question 9

Jean-Baptist Lamarck

Answer 9

Evolution is a development of new types of living organisms from pre-existing types.

Soft Inheritance: evolution occurs by phenotypic adaptation and passing said adaptation to offspring.

Inheritance of acquired traits.

Question 10

What is the order of nomenclatures?

Answer 10

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genius, Species

Question 11

6 Kingdoms

Answer 11

Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protista

Question 12

Darwin’s Contribution

Answer 12

Was NOT the theory of evolution but rather the mechanism behind evolution

Mechanism = Natural Selection

He showed this through observing organisms change from artificial selection

Question 13

Darwin’s Propositions

Answer 13

1. All species descended from one or a few original species.
2. Key mechanism is natural selection
3. No supernatural intervention
4. Small changes within populations from generation to generation can accumulate over long periods of time and lead to the origin of new species.

Question 14

What is Natural Selection?

Answer 14

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype

Question 15

What is required for Evolution via Natural Selection to occur?

Answer 15

1. Variation in genotype and phenotype
2. Heritability of variation - must have a mechanism by which traits can be passed on to future generations
3. Differential Reproduction - trait must affect reproductive success (also, more offspring are produced than can survive and reproduce)

Question 16

What is an adaptation?

Answer 16

Traits that change with environmental or behavioral pressures that increase fitness

Fitness is lifetime reproductive success

Question 17

Natural Selection vs. Evolution

Answer 17

Natural selection acts on individuals (on the Genotype) and is where members of the population best suited to their environment have the best chances of surviving to pass on their genes

Evolution occurs in populations (on the phenotype) and is the gradual change in inherited traits over generations

Question 18

Divergent Evolution

Answer 18

Traits shared because of a common ancestor

Question 19

What structure comes from Divergent Evolution?

Answer 19

Homologous Structures - Similar structure (came from the same ancestral organism) but now have different functions

Question 20

Vestigial Structures

Answer 20

Seemingly “functionless” homologous structures

Question 21

Convergent Evolution

Answer 21

Process by which similar traits evolve independently in related species that occupy different habitats

Question 22

What kind of structure does Convergent Evolution create?

Answer 22

Analogous Structures - Structures that are similar in function but not necessarily in underlying structure.

They do not derive from a common ancestor but instead developed in response to a similar environmental challenge.