4.2.1 Evolution

Question 1

Define evolution?

Answer 1

Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, which may result in the development of new species

Question 2

What is microevolution vs macroevolution

Answer 2

Small scale changes in the gene or allele frequencies within a species –> responsible for changes in a species genetic makeup in reposnse to environment changes

ex. antibiotic resistance

Evolution above the species level, ie. the formation of new species. –> Includes increases in taxonomic diversity or morphologiccal differences

Question 3

What contributes to microevolution

Answer 3

• Mutations: produce new alleless and DNA sequences –> many small mutations can result in significant changes over many generation (resulting in a new phenotype)
• Natural Selection: individuals with variations that are advantageous will create more offspirng thus increasing the frequency of those genes in future generations
• Gene Flow: geneticinformation entering or leaving a population affects the population over time. Gene flow will lessen as populations diverge

Question 4

What contributes to macroevolution

Answer 4

A single species with adpatations that permit it to inhabit new niches will result in a new group of orgnaisms incluuding many new species

Ex. over a few million years, the formation of many new species from a single ancestral dinosaur following a mass extinction event

Thus macroevolution is the result of the repeated effects of microevolution

Question 5

Explain the data interpretation phylogenetic relationships

Answer 5

Phylogenetic relationships= Evolutionary relationships that exist between a group of species

can be determined using data from bpdy stuctures, fossilised structures and DNA

Molecular phylogeny: the closer the

Question 6

Understand and be able to read phylogenetic trees (SKILL)

Answer 6

*use worksheets on elearn for practice

Question 7

Define microevolution?

Answer 7

Small-scale variation of allele frequencies within a species or population, in which the descendant is of the same taxonomic group as the ancestor

Question 8

Define Macroevolution?

Answer 8

The variation of allele frequencies at or above the level of species over geological time, resulting in the divergence of taxonomic groups, in which the descendant is in a different taxonomic group to the ancestor