ch18 Flashcards
Darwin’s Observation
Geographic distinction of organisms
Galápagos Islands (finches and tortoises)
Darwin vs Lamarck
Lamarck - giraffes stretched their necks from short to long
Darwin - both short and long necks, natural selection favored long necks (more resources)
Natural Selection
1) Organisms have heritable traits
2) Competition of resources
3) Individuals vary with reproductive success
4) Organisms may adapt with environmental change
Variation through genes
Competition, Fitness, and Adaptation
Fossil Evidence
Transitional species preserved
Anatomical Evidence
Homologous, Analogous, and Vestigial structures
Homologous structure
Inherited from common ancestor
Ex: Vertebrate forelimb
Analogous structure
Originated individually (over many times)
Ex: Wings
Vestigial structure
Important to ancestor and remains in derived species
Ex: Pelvic bone in whales and snakes
Biochemical evidence
All organisms have DNA
DNA -> RNA -> Protein
Biogeographical Evidence
Similar global strata
Evidence of Pangea
Misconceptions of Evolution
1) Evolution is just a theory
2) Individuals in a population evolve
3) Evolution is a theory tied to origin of life
4) Transitional fossils remain unknown
5) Organisms evolve on purpose
6) Random chance alone guides evolution
7) Evolution is not testable
8) Humans evolve directly from apes
Species Concept
Species - Latin for “kind”/”appearance”
Same “kind” of organism that may interbreed naturally and produce viable offspring
Limited to reproduction definition
Speciation
Formation of two species from one
(Allopatric or Sympatric)
Allopatric speciation
Geographic isolation between species and two species form
Sympatric speciation
Within the same area
Gene flow can occur or be disturbed
(Polyploidy, Autopolyploid, Allopolyploid, Sexual seletion, Habitat differentiation)