29. Intro to evolution Flashcards
Define evolution
Evolution - change in the genetic conposition of a population from one generation to the next
What are the key evolutionary processes?
- Mutations
- Migration (gene flow between populations when individuals move but not seasonal migration)
- Genetic drift (specific gene passed on to next generation - accidental sampling - not phenotypic genes)
- Natural selection (phenotypic differences influence the next generations genetic makeup)
What is microevolution?
Microevolution - study of evolution in terms of population changes
As populations evolve - related populations diverge -> divergance can lead to speciation (formation of new species)
What is macroevolution?
Macroevolution - studies the broad-scale evolutionary patterns
Macroevolution driven by microevolution
Need to consider environmental changes as well
Explain Lamarckian evolution
Pre - Darwin evolutionist, argued that species changed by improving as they evolved but thought that each species started with a spontaeous generation
Complexity (scale of organisation) increases with time
Doesn’t predict divergence as Darwin and does not explain the mechanism for organisms to get better
Explain Darwinian evolution
Darwin’s statement: “All the organic beings which have evr lived on this earth have descended from one primordial from”
Darwin introduced speciation and radial divergence
Competition for survival - naturl selection
Explain Darwinian descent with modification
How Darwinian Descent with modification statements were explained by Darwin
Who co-discovered natural selection
Lost his samples in a ship wreck
But no beef - Wallace coined the term “Darwinism”
What is the evolution beyond Darwin?
