Chapter 7 Flashcards
neutral mutation (p. 282)
a mutation that does not result in any selective advantage or disadvantage
harmful mutation (p. 282)
any mutation that reduces the reproductive success of an individual and is therefore selected against; harmful mutations do not accumulate over time
beneficial mutation (p. 282)
any mutation that increases the reproductive success of an organism; beneficial mutations
are favoured by natural selection and accumulate over time
artificial selection (p. 283)
directed breeding in which individuals that exhibit a particular trait are chosen as parents of the next generation; artificial selection is used to produce new breeds or varieties of plants and animals
immutable (p. 288)
unable to change
fossil (p. 289)
any ancient remains, impressions, or traces of an organism or traces of its activity that have been preserved in rocks or other mineral deposits in Earth’s crust
paleontology (p. 291)
the scientific investigation of prehistoric life through the study of fossils
catastrophism (p. 292)
the theory that the pattern of fossils could be accounted for by a series of global catastrophes that wiped out most species on Earth
uniformitarianism (p. 292)
the theory that geological changes are slow and gradual and that natural laws and processes have not changed over time
biogeography (p. 296)
the scientific study of the geographic distribution of organisms based on both living species and fossils
homologous feature (p. 298)
a structure with a common evolutionary origin that may serve different functions in modern species (for example, bat wing and human arm)
analogous feature (p. 300)
a structure that performs the same function as another but is not similar in origin or
anatomical structure; for example, bird and insect wings
vestigial feature (p. 300)
a rudimentary and non-functioning, or only marginally functioning, structure that is homologous
to a fully functioning structure in closely related species
natural selection (p. 304)
the way in which nature favours the reproductive success of some individuals within a population over others
survival of the fittest (p. 305)
a phrase that has been used to describe the process of natural selection
adaptation (p. 305)
a characteristic or feature of a species that makes it well suited for survival or reproductive success its environment
radioisotope (p. 308)
an atom with an unstable nucleus that is capable of undergoing radioactive decay
half-life (p. 308)
the time required for half the quantity of a radioactive substance to undergo decay; the half-life is a constant for any given isotope
modern evolutionary synthesis (p. 309)
The modern theory of evolution that takes into account all branches of biology
gene pool (p. 309)
the complete set of all alleles contained within a species or population
pseudogene (p. 311)
a vestigial gene that no longer codes for a functioning protein
plate tectonics (p. 312)
the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movements and features of Earth’s crust
Hybridization
When two complementary single-stranded DNA and/or RNA molecules bond together to form a double-stranded molecule.
Hybrid
An offspring of two animals or plants of different subspecies
5 fingers of evolution
Pinky: chance can happen
Ring: non random mating
Middle: mutation
Pointer: gene flow/movement
Thumb: adaptation
Theory
A theory is a scientific explanation of a phenomenon based on facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observations and experiments.
Evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Gene pool
Is set of all genes or genetic information in any population that is usually of a particular species.
Natural Selection
The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change.
Genetic variation
is the difference in DNA among individuals or the differences between populations.
Differential reproduction
a process of favoring survival and reproduction of the best individuals in a population
Altruism
when its behaviour benefits other organisms, at a cost to itself.
Group Selection
sometimes acts on whole groups of organisms, favoring some groups over others, leading to the evolution of traits that are group-advantageous.
Kin selection
Kin selection is a part of natural selection. Selection normally favors a gene if it increases reproduction, because the offspring share copies of that gene
Fitness
reproductive success and reflects how well an organism is adapted to its environment.
Gene Frequencies
A percentage of a population that carries allele at a particular locus
Malthus
● Malthus theorized that populations would continue expanding until growth is stopped or reversed by disease, famine, war, or calamity.
● Contributed to Darwin’s idea of competition and differential reproduction
Lamarack
● proposed the first coherent theory of evolution.
● proposed a mechanism: use & disuse (offspring inherit the characteristics their parents use most)
a giraffe that stretched high for leaves
would produce offspring with longer necks and this could be inherited.
Lyell
long-term result of short-term geological phenomena (i.e. erosion & uplift).
mountains and gorges were formed slowly
Immutable
Church: Separate Creation & Fixity of Species
Could not for agents church at time so had to stay to belief’s because at the time god was more powerful than anything
