Ch 9. Evidence for Evolution

Question 1

biological evolution

Answer 1

change in characteristics of a population or organisms that occurs over generations. change must be due to inherited genes to be considered evolutionary

Question 2

species

Answer 2

group of organisms that regularly breed and can produce fertile offspring

Question 3

biological populations

Answer 3

species that are divided by geography into smaller groups

Question 4

natural selection

Answer 4

process by which populations adapt to changing environment

Question 5

microevolution

Answer 5

changes in characteristics of a population within a species

Question 6

macroevolution

Answer 6

changes as a result of microevolution that result in a new species

Question 7

theory of evolution

Answer 7

all species present on earth today are descendants of a single common ancestor and all species represent the product of millions of years of accumulated microevolutionary changes.

Question 8

scientific theory

Answer 8

body of scientifically acceptable general principles that help explain how the universe works

Question 9

charles darwin

Answer 9

went on the voyage of the beagle and examined the differences between organisms across the planet. develped hypothesis of natural selection and common descent

Question 10

special creation

Answer 10

belief that God created all organisms. static model theory

Question 11

transformation hypothesis

Answer 11

organisms were created and have evolved WITHIN species

Question 12

separate types hypotheses

Answer 12

organisms were created (animals and plants) and then evolved into species

Question 13

biological classification

Answer 13

domain-kingdom-phylum(diversion)-class-order-family-genus-species. show different degrees of relationships

Question 14

anatomical similarities

Answer 14

homological structures in species. inherited basic structure from a common ancestor and evolved to their modified group

Question 15

vestigal structures

Answer 15

useless traits (flightless birds with wings) trait was functional in ancestral species but lost function over time in that species

Question 16

developmental pathways

Answer 16

diverse organisms look very similar as early embryos

Question 17

DNA similarities

Answer 17

DNA sequence displays pattern of similarity

Question 18

distribution of organisms

Answer 18

species are generally descended from ancestors in the same geographic location

Question 19

fossil evidence

Answer 19

shown that horses evolved from small catlike animals with 4 toes

Question 20

linneaen classification

Answer 20

all organisms in a category share similarities. the more subdivided the class becomes, the more similarities they will have

Question 21

homology

Answer 21

similarities in anatomy, behavior, and genes between species

Question 22

anatomical and developmental homology

Answer 22

sharing of traits (opposable thumbs)

Question 23

vestigal traits

Answer 23

similarities in functional and nonfunctional traits in a species

Question 24

molecular homology

Answer 24

similarities in DNA sequence between species

Question 25

molecular clock

Answer 25

rate of DNA sequence change due to mutations is constant

Question 26

biogeography

Answer 26

distribution of species on earth

Question 27

fossil

Answer 27

rock model of an organic structure

Question 28

hominins

Answer 28

humans and human ancestors

Question 29

fossil pedigrees

Answer 29

determining date of an ancient fossil

Question 30

radiometric dating

Answer 30

relies on radioactive decay

Question 31

origin of life

Answer 31

where the common ancestor came from

Question 32

alternatives to theory of evolution and origin of life

Answer 32

1. nonbiological processes assemble simple molecules into more complex molecules
2. molecules assemble into chains that store information and drive chemical reactions
3. collections of complex molecules assemble into self-replicating cell

Question 33

consilience

Answer 33

concurrence among observations from different sources