9- Evolution Flashcards
What is evolution?
How animal species evolve from one generation to generation
Who are two key figure in evolution theory?
Darwin and Wallace
Who do all living organisms inherit their genetic information from?
Their ancestors
What is the common ancestor of all species?
A very simple basic organism
What is natural selection?
Only organisms that are fit enough to survive have the chance to pass on genes to the next generation
What were early organisms like?
Basic
What were later organisms like?
More complex
What does the principle of inheritance suggest are heritable?
Physical and behavioural traits
Who do we inherit traits from and pass them on to?
Inherit from parents and pass on to offspring
Why are traits passed on?
Genetic codes (biological instructions)
What gene is working memory capacity associated with?
The C-O-M-T gene
What is the role of the C-O-M-T gene?
It regulates dopamine released in the prefrontal cortex
What does the principle of variation say?
Individuals within a species show variation
What are adaptive genes?
Certain genes that lead to successful adaptation and are more likely to remain in the gene pool
Which organisms can survive better?
Organisms with adaptive genes
What does the principle of adaptation say about variants of genes?
Some variants are more adaptive than others
What does the principle of time say that happens over time?
Natural selection results in changes in species
How long do changes need to take?
Decades, thousands, or millions of years to occur
How does successful variation accumulate?
Over time in a gradual process
What does directional selection select for and against?
For one extreme trait, and against the other extreme
What does stabilising selection select for and against?
For moderate traits, and against both extremes
What does diversifying selection select for and against?
For both extremes, and against moderate traits
2 natural selection strategies
Kin selection and reciprocal altruism
What is kin selection?
People are willing to make sacrifices or share resources because our relatives share genes with us
What is the ultimate motivation of kin selection?
It helps the extension of the family genes to the next generation
Who is involved in reciprocal altruism?
Not our family members or relatives
Who is favoured in reciprocal altruism?
Species who are willing to reciprocally support each other
What is increased with reciprocal altruism?
The chance of the species surviving as a whole
5 things that are supporting evidence for evolution
- Biogeography
- Fossils
- Solution of evolution
- Comparative embryology
- Molecular biology
What is biogeography?
The study of distribution of animal species
Why can a localised change in characteristic when studying biogeography?
Due to localised events
How can fossils be seen?
Through systematic changes through geographical layers
What is homologous evolution?
Organs with similarity due to being derived from a common ancestral structure
What is analogous evolution?
Organs with similarity due to performing a similar function
What does comparative embryology compare and why?
Processes of development across species to determine evolutionary similarity
What is the conclusion of embryos looking similar?
They are closer related in evolution
What can be analysed in molecular biology?
The degree of similarity between genetic codes of two species
How can molecular biology determine how close species are related in evolution?
A high degree of similarity
Is the human brain the biggest of species?
No
What do humans have the highest ratio of?
Brain and body mass
