Bio 180: Evolution, Genetics Flashcards
For the first midterm of Biology 180
Hypothesis
a proposed explanation of some phenomenon
Null Hypothesis
what one would expect to see if the hypothesis is incorrect or if the observations were due to chance
Prediction
a statement of what should be measured or observed if a hypothesis is correct
usually and “if…then” statement
Control Variable/Independent Variable
The variable being manipulated
Dependent Variable
the variable that is being measured
the variable where change should occur when the independent variable is manipulated
Theory
a proposed explanation for a very broad class of phenomenon or observations
Special Creation
leading explanation for the diversity of organisms in the mid 19th century
Pattern:
- species are independent/separate entities
- species do not change over time
Process:
each species was created separately and instantaneously at the same time by a divine being
Evolution
descent with modification
Pattern:
- species are created from a common ancestry; existing species descended from preexisting ones
- species change through time; characteristics of species can be modified from generation to generation
Process:
natural selection
Which was new, and the important part as to why Darwin and Wallace “discovered” evolution, they discovered the process
Explains:
- diversity of life and similarities of organisms
- adaptations to environments
Natural Selection
a genetically based change in the characteristics of a population over time
- traits vary among individuals in a population
- the individuals that are better suited/adapted to the environment will produce more surviving offspring (therefore passing on their genes) in the next generation than the individuals less adapted
Structural Homologies
similarities in the structures of different organisms
ie human arms and horse legs contain the same structure and same type of bones, but are obviously different
Turtles and humans are actually a really big one
Vestigial traits
reduced structures that have no or minimal function in one species but are clearly similar to functioning traits in another species
Developmental Homologies
similarities in morphology and cell fate in embryos
humans have tails in the embryo stage, as do most other animals, as well as gills
Genetic Homologies
similar protien and DNA sequences in different organisms
universality of basic genetic code
example: genes that control animal eyes and limbs, like in mice, flies, sharks squids and flatworks
Darwin’s Four Postulates
- Individuals within a population vary in traits
- At least some variation must be heritable and can be passed onto offspring
- Some individuals produce more offspring than others
- Individuals producing most offspring, not random subset of the population
The result is that the characteristics of a population will change over time
Condensed/Current View:
Natural selection occurs when heritable variation leads to differential reproduction
Darwinian Fitness/Fitness
the ability of an individual to produce offspring, relative to that ability in other individuals in the population
surviving offspring has greater importance than the offspring in general
the more surviving offspring, the “more fit” an individual is
Adaptation
a heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual in a particular environment relative to individuals lacking the trait
Heredity
the transmission of traits from parents to offspring
Blending Inheritance
Carl Nageli
hereditary determinant from two parents blend in the offspring
black + white sheep = grey offspring sheep
does not support evolution because variation would quickly disappear if the traits blended
Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
traits in parents that were modified through use are passed on to the next generation in modified form
emphasized adaptation to the environment
just through the wrong means (physical, not genetic)
Gregor Mendel
Worked out the rules of inheritance using the simplest possible way
used peas that for each trait only had two possible options (ie. seed shape was always either round or wrinkled)
Was the first person to really test past the F1 generation to see if recessive traits re-emerged
Also tested to see about traits being linked to one another, showed that they weren’t in the peas
Particulate Inheritance Hypothesis
Hereditary determinants (genes) maintain their integrity from generation to generation
- Do not blend together
- Do not acquire new or modified characteristics through use
Allele
alternative/different forms of a gene
The Principle of Dominance
In hybrids/heterozygous:
Dominant alleles are expressed
Recessive are present and can be passed on, but are not expressed
The Principle of Segregation
Two alleles of each gene must segregate (separate) into different gamete cells during the formation of egg and sperm in each parents
each gamete contains one allele of each gene