Chapter 1 Flashcards
The scientific study of life
biology
What are the five fundamental characteristics of life?
- Energy
- Cells
- Information
- Replication
- Evolution
What is a theory?
an explanation for a general class of observations that are supported by a wide body of evidence
Two theories that for the framework for modern biological science:
- The Cell Theory
- The theory of evolution by natural selection
Who were the first to observe cells?
Robert Hooke and Anton van Leewenhoek
What is a cell?
a highly organized compartment bounded by a plasma membrane that contains concentrated chemicals in an aqueous solution
What does the cell theory state?
Organisms are made of cells and come from pre-existing cells
What are the implications of cell theory ?
- single and multicellular organisms come from pre-existing cells
- Descendants by ancestry
What two claims did Darwin and Wallace make regarding the natural world?
- All species are related by common ancestry
- Descent with modification
Define decent with modification
characteristics of species can be modified from generation to generation
Define Evolution
a change in the characteristics of a population over time
Define Natural selection
the mechanism which describes how evolution occurs
Natural selection occurs in populations of ___________
organisms
An organism is more competitive when it is able to do what?
reproduce and pass their traits to their offspring
What does natural selection enable?
variation in population
Define population
a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time
What are the guidelines for natural selection to occur?
- Individuals must vary in characteristics that are heritable (Must exhibit variation)
- Individuals in a population have a competitive edge over others (survival & reproduction)
Why do some traits become more common in a population over time?
those traits lead to increased success in producing offspring
Natural selection acts on _____________
individuals
Evolutionary change occurs in ________
populations
When can the variation of a population occur?
- Natural selection
- Artificial selection
How does the variation of population occur through natural selection?
Traits beneficial to the current environment are “selected” for a competitive advantage
How does the variation of population occur through artificial selection
desirable traits are identified and selected by humans to produce a population of individuals desired by humans
Define FItness
the ability of an individual to produce offspring
In biology, the term ‘fitness’ is also referred to as
Darwinian Fitness
What results in the emergence of a new species?
when adaptation results in a reproductive barrier