Chapter 15

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

The idea that species change over time

Question 2

What two things does evolution explain?

Answer 2

1) Unity 2) Diversity

Question 3

What is taxonomy?

Answer 3

The science of classifying organisms

Question 4

What did Carolus Linnaeus do?

Answer 4

=Developed the binomial system of nomenclature and a system of classification for living things

Question 5

What was comparative anatomy, and how did scientists study it?

Answer 5

1) Evaluation of similar structures accross species
2) Compared extant (living species) from around the world, as well as fossils

Question 6

What is the “fixity of species”?

Answer 6

Each species had an ideal structure and function as well as a place on the scala naturae (ladder of life)

-The ladder went from least complex creature to most complex creature

Question 7

What did most mid 18th century taxonomists try to determine?

Answer 7

The diea characteristics of each species as well as the proper rank of them on the scala naturae

Question 8

What did Count Buffon imply in his writings?

Answer 8

Provided evidence of descent with modification and even speculated on causative mechanisms such as environmental influences, migration, geographic isiolation, and struggle for existence as a reason for change

Question 9

What were Erasmus Darwin’s conclusions?

Answer 9

Concluded that there was a possibility of common descent, based on his conclusions on changes undergone by animals during development, artificial selection,and prescence of vestigial structures

Question 10

What system did Baron Georges Cuvier develop?

Answer 10

He developed a system of classifying animals and used comparative anatomy to do so

Question 11

Cuvier also founded the science of paleontology. What is paleontology?

Answer 11

It is the study of fossils

Question 12

What is the concept of catastrophism?

Answer 12

That whenever there was a catastrophe, God would create a new set of species

Question 13

What were Lamarck’s conclusions?

Answer 13

That more complex organisms are descended from less complex organisms, and that increase complexity is the result of a desire for perfection. Lamarck also supported the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics, that the environment could bring about genotypic (inheritance) change

Question 14

Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology contained what arguments/explanations by James Hutton?

Answer 14

1) Earth is subjet to a slow but continuous cycles of rock formation through erosion. Weather causes erosion, and dirt, rock and debris are washed into the rivers and transported away. Thick sediments are deposited in thick layers.
2) Geographical changes can be accounted for by slow, natural processes.

Question 15

What is uniformitarianism?

Answer 15

The idea that slow changes occur at a uniform rate and the natural processes witnessed today are the same processes that occured in the past.

Question 16

What was one observation that Darwin made that supported Lyell’s theory of sow change?

Answer 16

The andes mountains

Question 17

What is biogeography?

Answer 17

The study of the range and geographic distribution of the life forms on Earth. From this, one can compare animals from different regions

Question 18

What were two animals that Darwin observed in South America that helped him formulate his theories?

Answer 18

1) Tortoises: Observed the differences between the length of the necks
2) Finches: BEaks

Question 19

What did Darwin determine about adaptations?

Answer 19

That they developed over time instead of being the instant work of a creator

Question 20

What is natural selection?

Answer 20

Process consisting of these components:

1) Organisms have inheritable variations
2) Organisms compete for resources
3) Organisms differ in reproductive success
4) Organisms become adapted

All in all, natural selection can be summed up in the statement “Survival of the fittest”

Question 21

Describe: Organisms have Inheritable Variations

Answer 21

Members of a population vary in their functional, physical, and behavioral characteristics. New variations can be either good or detrimental to the environment

Question 22

Describe: Organisms compete for resources

Answer 22

There are not enough resources to sustain the entire world’s population, so organisms have to compete for resources

Question 23

Describe: Organisms differ in Reproductive Success

Answer 23

Fitness is the reproductive success of an individual relative to other members of a population. If an organism is more fit, it will be able to reproduce much more, and thus will be more successful

Question 24

Describe: Organisms become adapted

Answer 24

A trait that helps an organism be more suited to it’s environment

Question 25

What are the four types of evidence for evolution?

Answer 25

1) Fossil Evidence
2) Biogeographical Evidence
3) Biochemical Evidence
4) Anatomical Evidence

Question 26

Fossil Evidence:

Answer 26

Scientists can use bones/prints that were preserved to compare structures. Transitional fossils can also be analyzed as well

Question 27

What is a transitional fossil?

Answer 27

A common ancestor for two different groups of organisms oor closely related to the common ancestor for these groups

Question 28

Describe: Biogeographical Evidence:

Answer 28

Biogeography is the study of the range and distribution of plants and animals in different places throughout the world. One can compare organisms from different places

Question 29

What are three types structures that can be studied in anatomy to find proof for evolution?

Answer 29

1) Homologous Structures
2) Analogous Structures
3) Vestigial Structures

Question 30

Describe biochemical evidence

Answer 30

Proof by studying DNA, RNA, and ATP.