E1 - Intro to Evolution

Question 1

Who is Leclerc de Buffon and what did he belivie?

Answer 1

-He examined animal body structure and function and was puzzled by anatomical features that seemed to serve no purpose

-He believed that the species had been created in a more perfect form but changed over time

Question 2

What did carl linneaus suggest?

Answer 2

that life changed over time

Question 3

What did Erasmus Darwin suggest?

Answer 3

that all life might have evolved from a single original source

Question 4

Chevalier de Lamarck proposed a mechanism for the evolution of species through 2 distinct principals:

Answer 4

Use and Disuse

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics:

Question 5

Use and Disuse

Answer 5

Structures that an individual used, became larger and stronger and structures that were not used, got smaller and weaker

Question 5

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics:

Answer 5

Individuals could pass characteristics onto their offspring that they had acquired over their lifetime

Question 6

what was the problems with Lamarcks ideas

Answer 6

we know that traits can change over an individual’s lifetime, but that does not change their DNA or how their traits are passed on
For example, a giraffe cannot “stretch” its neck over its life and pass on the trait of a longer neck to its offspring

Question 7

what book held convincing evidence that species have evolved
and also proposed a theory of how species evolved

Answer 7

Darwin’s On the Origin of Species

Question 8

why did Darwin publish his book

Answer 8

received a letter from a young biologist named Alfred Russell Wallace outlining almost an identical theory Darwin became more anxious to publish

Question 9

how did Darwin describe natural selection

Answer 9

described natural selection as a way in which the environment favours the reproductive success of certain individuals over others

• Evolution was simply the result of natural selection occurring over many generations

Question 10

what was Darwins theories?

Answer 10

All healthy populations produce far more offspring than can survive
All individuals exhibited heritable variability

Question 11

What did Darwin conclude from his theories

Answer 11

Some individuals will have better chance of success than others
Their traits are therefore more likely to be passed onto the next generation

Question 12

Who coined the term “Survival of the Fittest” to describe process of evolution

Answer 12

Herbert Spencer

Question 13

Why is “Survival of the Fittest” not true?

Answer 13

Being “fit” is not important, being more likely to have reproductive success is what is important!

-its the organism that is most adaptable to change that will survive

Question 14

Evolution

Answer 14

Change in the gene pool over time from generaqtion to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection and genetic drift

Question 15

gene pool

Answer 15

The set of all genes or gentic information, in any population

ex: red hair and non-red head is 50%

-like a card deck that is reshuffled
-deck remains the same through generations, i.e 50% red

-if the frequency varies the evolution has occured

Question 16

evolution in simple terms

Answer 16

change in the gene pool over time

Question 17

5 fingers of evolution- little finger

Answer 17

• if population shrinks then chance can take over

ex, if a couple people survive a epidemic than their genes will represent the new gene pool

Question 18

5 fingers of evolution- ring finger

Answer 18

reminder: mating (ring on ring finger)

• if indivduals choose a mate based on apperence or location the frequency may change

Question 19

5 fingers of evolution- middle finger

Answer 19

reminder; “M” in middle finger should remmind you of mutatuons

• if new gene is added through mutation then it affects frequency

Question 20

5 fingers of evolution- pointer finger

Answer 20

reminder: movment

-If a new indivdual flow into an area the frquency will change or even if they leave

• this is called gene flow

Question 21

gene flow simplified

Answer 21

If a new indivdual flow into an area the frquency will change or even if they leave

Question 22

WHAT DOES NOT LEAD TO ADAPTATION

Answer 22

• however, small populations, non-random mating, mutations and gene flow DO NOT LEAD TO ADAPTATION

Question 23

what is the only process thay creates organisms better adapted to their local enviroments

Answer 23

natural selection

Question 24

5 fingers of evolution- thumb

Answer 24

reminder; thumb up and down

• Nature votes thumbs up for adaptation that do well in enviroment

-votes down for adaptations that dont do well

-less adaptable genes are replaced with adaptable ones

Question 25

microevolution

Answer 25

• refers to small change

Question 26

macro evolution

Answer 26

larger change over longer time.

Question 27

TRUE OR FALE: EVOLUTION IS ORGANISMS ADAPTING TO ENVIROMENT

Answer 27

FALSE

• INDIVIDUAL ORGANISMS DO NO EVEOLVE AT ALL
• RANDOM GENE MUTATIONS CAN OCCUR WHICH CAUSES CHANGE

Question 28

TRUE OR FALSE: SURVIAL OF THE FITTEST

Answer 28

-FALSE

-EVOLUTIONARY FITNESS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW WELL SUITED ONE IS TO THE CURRENT ENVIROMENT

• ALSO SURIVIAL IS NOT HOW EVLOUTION OCCURS, REPRODCUTION IS
• IF AN ORGANISM DIES WITHOUT REPRODUCCING DOES NOT MEAN IT IS USELESS BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE DIED FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE ITS SPOT

Question 29

TRUE OR FALSE: GENES WANT TO MAKE MROE COPIES OF THEMSELVES

Answer 29

-FALSE

-GENES DO NTO WANT ANYTHING

• NO OUTSIDE MECHANSIM THAT SELECTS WHICH GENES ARE BEST TO PRESERVE

-ALL THAT5 HAPPENS IS RANDOM GENETIC MUTATIONS

-THIS CAN RESULT IN MORE COPIES OF GENE BEING PASSED ON

Question 30

immutable

Answer 30

unable to change

Question 31

How do fossils help

Answer 31

• prove evidence of evolution by shwping that certain speices at time had certain traits

Question 32

adaptation

Answer 32

a characteristic or feature
of a species that makes it well suited
for survival or reproductive success in
its environment

Question 33

what can we take away from the black pepperd moth gizmo?

Answer 33

Nature favored adaptations that did well so for example before teh trees turned darkers the lighter moth population was thriving in population because they were camoflaging

-however, as teh trees got darker the moths that were darker, nature voted thumbs uo for the adaptation leading to their population to grow and survie

Question 34

Biological evolution

Answer 34

process by which populations of organisms change over time.