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Biology > Descent with Modification > Flashcards

Descent with Modification Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Two main ideas

A
  1. Today’s organisms descended from ancestral species that were different from modern species
  2. Natural selection is the mechanism for this evolutionary change
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2
Q

Natural selection results _________-

A

Natural selection results in adaptive evolution

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3
Q

Natural selection

A

Population can change over time if individuals that possess certain heritable traits leave more offspring

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4
Q

Evolution

A

Earth’s many species are descendants of ancestral species that were different from the present-day species

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5
Q

Evolution = _______________

A

Evolution = descent with modification

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6
Q

Evolution as a pattern and as a process

A
  • Pattern of evolutionary change → revealed by data from many scientific disciplines
  • These data are facts → observations about the natural world
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7
Q

Aristotle

(3)

A
  • Viewed species as fixed (unchanging)
  • Recognized certain “affinities” among organisms
  • Life forms could be arranged on a ladder of increasing complexity → Scala naturae
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8
Q

Natural theology (Judeo-Christians religions)

A
  • species were individually designed by a creator and therefore perfect
  • Perfect match of organisms to their environment → interpreted as evidence that The Creator had designed each species with a purpose
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9
Q

Fossils → Older the stratum, _________________

A

Fossils → Older the stratum, the more dissimilar its fossils were to current life forms

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10
Q

Catastrophism

(2)

A
  • Events in the past occurred suddenly + were caused by mechanisms different than those operating in the present
  • Boundaries between strata → local floods or droughts that destroyed species present
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11
Q

Gradualism

A

Profound change can take place through the cumulative effect of slow but continuous processes

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12
Q

conclusion of gradualism

A

if geological changes result from slow, continuous processes rather than sudden events, Earth is far older than the 6,000 years estimated by the bible

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13
Q

Lamark → explained two principles

A
  1. Use and disuse: parts of the body that are used extensively become larger and stronger, while those that are not used deteriorate
  2. Inheritance of acquired characteristics: an organism could pass these modifications to its offspring
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14
Q

Lamark - Thought evolution happens because __________

A

Thought evolution happens because organisms have an innate drive to become more complex

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15
Q

lamark: Had the right _____, but the wrong ________

A

Had the right idea (match of organisms to their environment → gradual evolutionary change), but the wrong mechanisms

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16
Q

Voyage of the Beagle

A

5-year exploration that Allowed Dawin to study adaptation + gather proof he would incorporate into the theory of evolution

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17
Q

Voyage of the Beagle - conclusion

A

Adaptations to the environment + origin of new species are a closely related process

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18
Q

what pushed Darwin to publish

A

Got sent a manuscript containing a theory of natural selection identical to his

19
Q

NS:

All species produce more offspring than ____________

A

All species produce more offspring than their environment can support

20
Q

NS:

Environmental resources are limited

A

Production of more individuals than the environment can support → struggle for existence
* Competition for limited resources

21
Q

NS:

Members of a population vary extensively in their characteristics

A

No two individuals are exactly alike

22
Q

Natural selection may act on these variables if:

(2)

A
  1. They are heritable
  2. They affect the individual’s ability to survive + reproduce
23
Q

Natural selection occurs through interactions between ________ + __________

A

Natural selection occurs through interactions between organisms + environment

24
Q

Individuals DO NOT EVOLVE

A

it is the population that evolves over time

25
Q

Natural selection can amplify or diminish only:

A

Natural selection can amplify or diminish only those heritable traits that differ among the individuals in a population

26
Q

Natural selection, perfect organisms?

A

Natural selection doesn’t create perfect organisms
Allows organisms to adapt to their environment

27
Q

Darwin developed his theory based on:

(4)

A
  1. Mathus’ essay: Struggle for existence
  2. Lyell’s principles of geology
  3. Principles of artificial selection
  4. His data (what he saw in the Galapagos)
28
Q

Struggle for existence

A

While a population has the potential of growing exponentially, limited resources will naturally limit population growth

29
Q

Uniformitarianism

A

Mechanisms of change are constant over time - Same geologic processes are operating today as in the past + at the same rate

30
Q

Artificial selection

A

Humans have modified domesticated plants + animals in just a few generations by selecting individuals with the desired traits for breeding
* Artificial selection can achieve large changes in relatively short period of time
* Natural selection THEN capable of modifications over thousands of generations

31
Q

Darwin argued that similar processes occur in nature (similar to aritficial selection)

(based on 2 obs.)

A

a) Members of a population often vary in their inherited traits
b) All species can produce more offspring than their environment can support

32
Q

Evidence for Darwin’s theory

(5)

A
  1. Natural selection in action
  2. Homology
  3. Convergent evolution
  4. Biogeography
  5. Fossils
33
Q

Homology

A

the similarity resulting from common ancestry

34
Q

Vestigial organs

A
  • seemingly useless organs or structures (“leftovers from ancestors”)
  • Indicate that the organism evolved from ancestors in which the organ was functional
35
Q

why do vertigial organs tend to persist

A

no selective pressure to eliminate them

36
Q

homology

Comparing early stages of development in different animal species

A

Reveals additional anatomical homologiesnot visible in adult organisms

37
Q

homology

Molecular

A

All forms of life use the same genetic language of DNA and RNA
Likely that all species descended from common ancestors that used this code

38
Q

Convergent evolution = analogous structures

A

Characteristics are similar, but not derived from a common ancestor

39
Q

Homologous vs. Analogous

A
  • Analogous features share similar function but NOT common ancestry
  • Homologous features share common ancestry but NOT necessarily similar function
40
Q

Biogeography

A

Species tend to be more closely related to other species from the same area than to other species that live in different areas

41
Q

Pangea

A

continents once joined together, isolated as time passed

42
Q

Fossils

A

A replica in stone of original organism (formed when minerals in H2O replace materials in bone + tissue)

43
Q

Succession of forms observed in the fossil record consistent with __________

A

Succession of forms observed in the fossil record consistent with proposed ‘order’ of evolution

44
Q

is natural selection just a theory

A

Natural selection is a unifying theory – The pattern of evolution has been documented directly + is supported by a lot of evidence

Biology (12 decks)

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