9.Evolution Flashcards
what is a selective agent/pressure
a factor in an organisms environment that removes unsuited individuals from a population
what is biological fitness
biological fitness is the ability to survive, reproduce and pass on alleles to the next generation
VA scaffold
There is a variation in the phenotypes in the ________ population due to random mutations as __________
ST scaffold
All organisms face a daily struggle to survive and reproduce, The ___________ with _________ struggle because __________ (selection pressures)
SE scaffold
The ________ have a selective advantage as _______________________
IN scaffold
The organisms that have a selective advantage (_____________), survive, reproduce and their offspring inherit the alleles for the trait of ______________
E scaffold
Evolution occurs by natural selection and there is a change in allele frequency over time and the _________ population becomes better suited to its environment
what order do humans belong to
primates
identify shared characteristics of primates
1.Prehensile or grasping hand
2.Opposable thumbs(s)
3.Flat finger nails instead of claws and sensitive tips of digits
4.large, forward facing eyes
5.large brain volume in comparison to body size
what is meat by bipedalism
walking on two legs rather than four
advantages of bipedalism
-more energy efficient than walking on four legs
-bipeds can see further than quadrupeds of similar size
-able to hold objects while walking
disadvantages of bipedalism
-slower top running speed
-greater visibility to predators
-greater pressure on spine and back muscles
identify hominid characteristics
-reduced arm-to-leg ratio
-pelvis more bowl-like
-loss of opposable big toe/thumb
-larger heel bone (calcaneus)
-foramen magnum moved under base of skull
-increased brain to body ratio
describe arm to leg ratio in hominids
-humans have shorter arms in comparison to leg length than the primates and hominids
-being no longer arboreal, long arms are not required
-shortening arms makes walking more stable and saves energy
-makes precision tasks easier
describe pelvis in hominids
-human pelvis has evolved to become more bowl like than those of quadrupedal primates
-this spreads mass of the upper body which is now supported by two legs, resulting in reduced pressure on pelvis and increased stability