88. THE SCIENCE BEHIND EVOLUTION Flashcards
1
Q
- What have new discoveries regarding Evolution been able to do?
A
- they have been able to fill the gaps that were identified
by Darwin’s Origin of Species Theory
2
Q
- List the 4 different types of Scientific Data that support Evolution.
A
- Direct Observations
- Homology
- The Fossil Record
- Biogeography
3
Q
- List examples of Direct Observations of Evolutionary Change, Natural Selection and Adaptation.
A
- NATURAL SELECTION
- in response to Introduced Plant Species
- these plant species will change and adapt to their new
environment- the other species in this environment will also have
to change to adapt to the alien plants
- the other species in this environment will also have
- THE EVOLUTION OF
- drug-resistant Bacteria
- THE EVOLUTION OF
- insecticide-resistant mosquitoes - THE ENHANCED SURVIVAL OF
- Thalassaemia Carriers upon the exposure to Malaria
4
Q
- What is an example of a species that has used Natural Selection in Response to new, introduced plant species?
A
- Soapberry Bugs
- they use their beak to feed on seeds within fruits
THERE IS A CORRELATION:
- between the fruit size and the beak size of the
Soapberry bugs
- a change in a population’s food source can result in
an evolution by Natural Selection
THIS EVOLUTION HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED IN:
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Oklahoma
- Australia
5
Q
- What kind of change can we see in Soapberry bugs that live in Southern Florida?
A
- they have longer beaks
- this is because they feed on larger than the native
fruits
6
Q
- What kind of change can we see in Soapberry bugs that live in Central Florida?
A
- they have shorter beaks
- this is because they feed on smaller than the native
fruits
7
Q
- How long did it take this evolution of the Soapberry Bug Beaks to take place in Florida?
A
- it happened in less than 35 years
- this is known as a Microevolution
8
Q
- Which 2 factors affect the Evolution Rate of a species?
A
- the size of the species
- the generation time of the species
9
Q
- What is an example of an Evolution caused by Adaptation in Bacteria?
A
- the evolution of Drug resistant Bacteria
- these Bacteria have become antibiotic resistant
10
Q
- What can be said about the Generation times of Bacteria?
A
- they have short generation times
- they can divide every 1 to 3 hours
11
Q
- What is the result of Bacteria’s short generation time?
A
- this allows for the rapid adaptive evolution of bacteria
- this means that the adaptation is a rapid process
12
Q
- Give one example of Bacteria that have become Drug Resistant?
A
- Staphylococcus Aureus
13
Q
- What is the Bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus?
A
- it is a bacteria that is responsible for a wide range of
human infections
14
Q
- Which Antibiotics has Bacterium Staphylococcus Aureus become resistant to?
A
- PENICILLIN
- it became resistant in 1945
- this happened 2 years after it was first widely used - METHICILLIN
- it became resistant in 1961
- this happened 2 years after it was first widely used
15
Q
- What is the abbreviation for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus?
A
- MRSA
- it is a dangerous Pathogenic Strain
- it is resistant to many other antibiotics as well
- it can infect someone directly in their Blood Stream
16
Q
- What is Methicillin?
A
- it is a Beta (β)- Lactam Antibiotic
- it binds to Transpeptidase
- it inhibits Transpeptidase
17
Q
- What is Transpeptidase?
A
- this is an enzyme
- it is responsible for the formation of peptidoglycan
PEPTIDOGLYCAN:
- is found in the Bacterial Cell Wall
- this means that it is found in Gram + Bacteria
18
Q
- What is the MecA gene?
A
- this is a gene
- it encodes for a protein that binds to Beta (β)-Lactam
Antibiotics
19
Q
- What does the MecA gene do?
A
- it makes the Transpeptidase enzyme stay active
- this enzyme is found in bacteria
- the enzyme stays active even in the presence of
Beta (β) Lactam antibiotics
THIS MEANS THAT:
- cell wall synthesis will continue
- the antibiotic will not be able to inhibit it
- the bacteria can resist the antibiotic
20
Q
- How is the development of Antibiotic Resistance an example of Natural Selection?
A
WHEN THE MRSA STRAINS ARE EXPOSED TO METHICILLIN:
- they are more likely to survive than the non-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus Strains
- the MRSA strains will reproduce
- this bacteria will increase in frequency
- the MRSA is now resistant to many antibiotics
21
Q
- How is the evolution of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes an example of Adaptation?
A
- specific mosquito populations have developed
a resistance to the insecticide DDT
DDT:
- Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
