Bio 123: PP3 Material Flashcards
What lines of evidence do we have that supports decent with modification?
1) Fossils
2) Transitional Forms
3) Biogeography
4) Comparative Morphology
5) Homologous Structures and Divergence
6) Embryonic Development
Law of Succession
States that fossils and living organisms in the same geographic region resemble each other, but are distinct from organisms found in other areas.
What was the Archaeopteryx?
A bird that evolved during the period of the dinos. Seem to retain reptillian characteristics and bird anatomy.
What makes birds unique?
Birds are distinguished from other similar species because birds are the only organism that has FEATHERS
Transitional Forms
Evidence that suggests that forms are descended with modification from earlier forms. The fossil record shows evidence of these transmutations in progress.
It also gives us clues regarding the evolutionary trajectories of species
How is Biogeography used to show evidence of modification through decent?
Biogeography is where a species lives and why. Biogeography gives us an idea of a common ancestor and argues that if an environment changes then the organism must change with it.
What is comparative morphology?
It is the study of body forms and structures of major groups of organisms.
It yields clues to evolutionary trends (similarities in one or more body parts) and suggests a common ancestor because of inheritance of these traits from a common ancestor.
Define Homologous Structures
Any structure that provides evidence of a divergence from a common ancestor. They are structures with similar appearances and functions that derived from the same body part of a common ancestor.
Define Divergent Evolution
Changes from the body form of a common ancestor
What is Morphological convergence?
Environmental pressures cause two completely different unrelated species to develop some very similar traits. This does not yield clues about a common ancestor.
What are analogous structures
Structures that have similar functions or appearances, throughout species and which was caused due to environmental challenges, but were not acquired from a common ancestor. They are not derived evolutionarily and developmentally.
Aposematic
The coloration or markings of an organisms that serves to warn away predators.
What are vestigial structures?
A morphological feature that has no apparent current function and came from a common ancestor. E.G. The bone in the forearm, wisdom teeth
Patterns of development
Development patterns shift due to mutations in the homeotic genes (HOX genes). Yields clues about a common ancestor.
Biochemistry as evidence for evolution
Protein, amino acids and DNA suggests divergence events all from a common ancestor due to the genetic similarities between species.
