Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Evolution > Evidence for Evolution > Flashcards

Evidence for Evolution Flashcards

1
Q

define evolution

A

Change in the genetic composition of the population (allele frequencies) from one generation to the next

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

define theory

A
  • an overarching concept that explains a large number of facts and observations about the natural world
  • can be used to make predictions about future observations
  • has such weight and scope
  • explains so many facts that it is unlikely to be refuted, although it may be refined as one tests the predictions it generates.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the special creation theory

A
  • the idea that species are immutable and do not change overtime
  • they are independently created and never change
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are the four components for the theory of biological evolution

A
  1. microevolution
  2. speciation
  3. macroevolution
  4. common ancestry
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

4 components of biological evolution - microevolution

A
  • change in allele frequencies and trait distributions that occur within populations and species
  • on a small time scale
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

4 components of biological evolution - speciation

A
  • one species splits into two or more species
  • use the biological species concept to define a species
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

4 components of biological evolution: speciation - biological species concept

A
  • species are populations, or groups of populations, within and among individuals which individuals actually or potentially interbreed and outside of which they do not interbreed
  • can be a genetic or behavioral barrier
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

4 components of biological evolution - macroevolution

A

evolution above the level of a species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

4 components of biological evolution - common ancestry

A

species are not independently derived, but instead has evolved from common ancestors and, thus, all species are related

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

evidence of microevolution

A
  • artificial selection
  • natural populations - Broder’s paper
  • lab experiments - fruit fly experiment (also evidence of speciation)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

evidence of microevolution: artificial selection - define the term

A

the selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals to encourage the occurrence of desirable traits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

evidence of microevolution: artificial selection - what is the Garland et al. experiemnt

A
  • they took mice that naturally ran on their wheels and bred them with other rats that ran on their wheel
  • ones that were artificially selected, ran more frequently than those that did not
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

evidence of microevolution: artificial selection - how is the Garland et al. experiment different from training mice to run via reward

A
  • VIST (Variance, Inheritable, Selection, and Time): this would have no I or T
  • training mice to run is not inheritable
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

evidence of microevolution: natural populations - explain Broader’s paper

A
  • there were 4 introduction sites where there were no predators
  • let the fishes reproduce in the lab
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

evidence of microevolution: Broader’s paper - what were the prediction and results

A
  • predication: larger genitalia in low predation areas since female choice is the dominating selective factor
  • results: introduced population evolved shorter genitalia (agrees with prediction)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

evidence of microevolution: Broader’s paper - why is it important to rear them in the lab rather than just measuring males collected from streams

A

remove confounding variables

17
Q

evidence of microevolution: lab experiments - explain the fruit fly experiment (also evidence of speciation)

A
  • researchers took fruit flies and fed one group starch (they did not like) and the other was fed maltose (the did like)
  • they simulated 40 generations of evolution by natural selection
18
Q

evidence of microevolution: fruit fly experiment - ‘40 generations of evolution by natural selection’ what does it mean

A
  • some fruit flies died when put on starch but those that survived reproduced
  • so the selective force = diet
19
Q

evidence of microevolution: fruit fly experiment - what did the experiment test for

A

reproductive isolation between the populations

20
Q

evidence of microevolution: fruit fly experiment - what were the predictions

A
  • starch flies evolve to eat starch
  • the flies will start to have some separation (not speciation since the time scale is too short)
21
Q

evidence of microevolution: fruit fly experiment - what was the results

A
  • the data was consistent with the prediction
  • researchers saw early stages of a reproductive isolation or mating barrier (early evidence of speciation)
22
Q

evidence of microevolution: fruit fly experiment - what was seen in the experimental group

A
  • assortative mating
  • groups mate with others that are similar to each other rather than different
23
Q

with all the evidence of microevolution, what is the evolutionary interpretation of microevolution

A
  • species are not fixed (immutable)
  • their characteristics change overtime
24
Q

evidence of speciation

A
  • stickleback population
  • law of speciation (also evidence of macroevolution)
  • traditional forms (also evidence of macroevolution)
25
Q

evidence of speciation: stickleback population - what was the prediction

A

if speciation is a process, then we should be able to observe species with populations in various stages of speciation

26
Q

evidence of speciation: stickleback population - what are the steps of speciation

A
  1. interbreeding population
  2. distinguishable and hybridize (mate/breed) occasionally
  3. distinguishable, hybridize rarely, hybrids have low fitness
  4. distinguishable, hybridize rarely, hybrids are infertile, now completely different species
27
Q

evidence of speciation - what is the law of succession

A
  • correspondence between fossil and living forms from the same local
  • also evidence of macroevolution
28
Q

evidence of macroevolution - transitional forms

A
  • species showing a mix of features including traits typical of ancestral populations and novel traits seen later in descendants
  • also evidence of macroevolution and common ancestor
29
Q

evidence of macroevolution: transitional forms - examples

A
  • birds and dinosaurs: Archaeopteryx is a transitional form that has a mix of traits from birds and reptiles
  • transition to land and back to water: the Blenny is a terrestrial fish where as a child it lives in the water but as an adult it lives on land and will jump out of water if knocked in
30
Q

with all the evidence of speciation, what is the evolutionary interpretation of speciation

A
  1. species not only change overtime, but they also spawn new species
  2. observation of stickleback populations at various stages of speciation process is consistent with the hypothesis that speciation is constantly taking place in nature
31
Q

what is the evidence for a common ancestor

A
  • homology
  • genetic code
  • vestigial structure
32
Q

evidence for common ancestor - homology

A
  • similarity between species that results from inheritance of traits from a common ancestor
  • can be structural or molecular
33
Q

evidence for common ancestor: homology - what is the evolutionary interpretation of homologous limb structure

A

All vertebrates descended from a common ancestor, from which they inherited the fundamental design of their limbs

34
Q

evidence for common ancestor: homology - define analogous structures

A
  • similar structures because the animals evolved in a similar environment and traits have “converged”
  • happens through convergent evolution (same traits, different ancestor)
35
Q

evidence for common ancestor - genetic code

A
  • an example of molecular homology
  • every organism has a universal molecular homology (genetic code)
  • DNA evolved once and every living thing has the same DNA
36
Q

evidence for common ancestor: genetic code - evolutionary interpretation of genetic code homology

A

all organisms inherited their genetic code from a common ancestor

37
Q

evidence for common ancestor - vestigial structure

A

a useless or rudimentary version of a body part that has an important function in other closely related species

39
Q

evidence for common ancestor - evolutionary interpretation of vestigial structures

A

Species with vestigial structures are descended, with modification, from ancestors in which the structure in question was fully formed and functional

Evolution (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions