Chapter 1?- Evolution Flashcards
What is Biodiversity
Variation of life in all levels of biological organization
Why is biodiversity important?
Related to human survival and health
- poor soil management can compromise services needed for human health
Are organisms suited to their environment?
Yes they are. Variations in body parts so that it suits their environment.
How is unity of life illustrated?
Through shared characteristics
Unity vs Diversity of life
Unity= common ancestry, life originated from one form
Diversity= differences/ variations in features
What is Evolution
The change in genetic composition of a population from generation to generation.
Who is Georges Cuvier and what did he discover.
Cuvier was a paleontologist and looked at organisms in diff strata. Discovered that younger fossils on top and older fossils on bottom.
Postulated that they became extinct from a catastrophe.
What did James Hutton discover
This geologist discovered gradualism. that processes likes extinction happen gradually. Example, a river dried up leaving a valley.
What did Lyell discover?
Uniformitarianism. Process that were acting a long time ago are still acting today.
What id Darwin Credited for?
Looking at how species evolved. Made the observation that a group of organisms always produce more than what their environment can support.
What are 4 of Lamarck thinking? ( hint only one of them is right)
- traits change due to use and misuse.
- characteristics acquired during ones lifetime are passed down to offspring.
-Organisms have a drive to be more complex - Ind. match their environment.
What is Fitness?
Fitness is the contribution and ind. makes to the gene pool of the next generation.
