Evolution

Question 1

Define Species

Answer 1

A group of organisms with common characteristics that can interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

Define Adaptation

Answer 2

A characteristic or a behaviour of a species that allows it to survive and reproduce more effectively in its environment.

Question 3

Define Population

Answer 3

A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. Individuals of the same population generally have the same number and types of genes but different alleles (variations of the genes).

Question 4

Define Environment

Answer 4

The surroundings or conditions in which an animal or plant lives or operates, including biotic and abiotic factors.

Question 5

Types of adaptations

Answer 5

Structural adaptations relate to the size and shape of an organism and its various body parts, for example, a kangaroo’s powerful leg muscles assist it in hopping at high speeds.
Physiological adaptations relate to how an organism’s body works, for example, the skin cells of a chameleon change pigment production to alter the chameleon’s colour, which assists the chameleon to hide
Behavioural adaptations relate to an organism’s behaviours, for example, penguins huddling together to stay warm.

Question 6

Example of allele varieties in a population

Answer 6

For example, all humans will have the gene for eye colour, but the alleles they have for this gene may be blue, brown or even hazel.

Question 7

Define evolution

Answer 7

Evolution is the permanent gradual change in the genetic composition of a population over long periods of time due to natural selection. This can be observed as changes in allele frequencies in the gene pool (different versions of a gene) and phenotypes (physical traits) in a population. Mutations introduce new alleles into the gene pool.

Question 8

Why does evolution occur?

Answer 8

Selection pressures cause these new phenotypes to survive or die out. If an organism displays traits that make it suited to its environment, then it is able to mate and produce offspring. The offspring will have the same survival characteristics (and alleles) as their parent. This gradually changes the frequency of alleles in the gene pool.

Question 9

Define phenotype

Answer 9

an observable trait

Question 10

What is the theory of evolution

Answer 10

Most species reproduce more young than can and do survive, because they exceed the resources (food,space,water and mate) required to sustain them.
This limits population sizes by creating competition within the species for the limited resources.
There is variation within the members of a species which is passed on.
Some traits are more favourable (i.e better adapted to the environment)giving the individual a competitive edge. This is natural selection.
Those individuals with favourable traits which make them better adapted to their environment will survive and are more likely to reproduce and pass on these favourable traits to their offspring thereby contributing more to the next generation than those that are less fit. This is known as survival of the fittest. In each generation more individuals will be found with the favourable traits, e.g. Peppered moths in England.

Question 11

How did the public react to Darwin’s theory?

Answer 11

Drawn in 1871, it depicts Darwin himself as an ape. The cartoon reflects how many people felt about Darwin and his theory during his own time. Darwin had actually expected this type of reaction to his theory and had waited a long time before publishing his book for this reason. It was only when another scientist, named Alfred Russel Wallace, developed essentially the same theory of evolution that Darwin put his book into print.

Question 12

Define 
hypothesis
scientific law
scientific theory
scientific method

Answer 12

A suggested explanation for an observation that is followed with experimentation.
A basic fact that describes the behaviour of a natural phenomenon.
An explanation of an aspect of the natural world and universe that has been repeatedly tested and corroborated in accordance with the scientific method
The process of objectively establishing facts through testing and experimentation.

Question 13

Evidence of evolution occurring examples

Answer 13

Palaeontology (The Fossil record)
Comparative anatomy (Homologous structures)
Comparative embryology

Question 14

How does the fossil record support the theory of evolution?

Answer 14

Fossils provide evidence for the evolutionary change through now extinct forms that led to modern species. For example, there is a rich fossil record that shows the evolutionary transitions from horse ancestors to modern horses that document intermediate forms (transitional features) and a gradual adaptation of changing ecosystems.

Question 15

Example of a species which gradually diverged into several species

Answer 15

During his journey, Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, which are home to at least 13 species of finch. He noticed that the different finch species were similar in colour and size, but had variations in their beaks that made them suited to the food sources available on their particular island. Some used twigs to extract insect larvae from tree branches, some drank blood from seabirds, some removed ticks from tortoises, and some ate seeds, leaves and flowers. He proposed that all species of finches in the Galapagos were the descendants of one shared, ancestral species, a ground-dwelling, seed-eating finch, which had migrated out to all the islands from the mainland. Over many generations the different groups of finches had evolved to suit their different environments and feeding habits. The groups of finches are now so different from one another that they do not interbreed.They have become separate species.

Question 16

Define fossil

Answer 16

The preserved remains, traces or imprints of dead organisms.

Question 17

Define natural selection

Answer 17

The process by which individuals of a species that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce (while those not so well fitted to survive either die or fail to reproduce).

Question 18

Can fossilisation occur anywhere?

Answer 18

If an organism is covered shortly after its death by dirt, mud, silt or lava the micro-organisms that cause the decay cannot work. This is because there is no oxygen therefore prohibiting the formation of apatite (requires oxygen to form).

Question 19

How does fossilisation occur?

Answer 19

An organism dies and is quickly covered by sediment. Over time, the sediment turns into rock. The remains of the organism turn into a fossil. The fossil is flattened by layers of rock. The rock is folded and eroded and the fossil can be seen on the surface.

Question 20

Define transitional fossil

Answer 20

Transitional fossils refer to fossils that have the characteristics of two different groups of organisms

Question 21

Example of transitional fossil

Answer 21

Archaeopteryx is a well known example of a transitional fossil. This was a small flying dinosaur with feathers, its fossils are 150 million years old.It appeared in the late Jurassic and shared features with both birds and reptiles, suggesting that birds evolved from these reptiles.
REPTILE features: long-tail, claws, solid bones, teeth
BIRD features: wish-bone, feathers, attaches for flight muscles on the sternum (breast bone).

Question 22

Define comparative anatomy

Answer 22

Comparative anatomy refers to the studies of similarities and differences in structure between different organisms.

Question 23

Example of comparative anatomy between different groups of organisms

Answer 23

The forelimbs of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals have similar structures but different functions. Frog (amphibian) uses its forelimb to raise the front of the body. Lizard (reptile) uses its forelimb for walking and running. Birds forelimbs are modified as wings for flying. Mammals use the fore limbs for grasping, walking, running, swimming, flying etc.

Question 24

Define homologous structures

Answer 24

Refers to body parts of animals that have a similar structure or origin

Question 25

How do homologous structures supports evolution?

Answer 25

Homologous structures suggest that these organisms shared a common ancestor and any differences are due to divergent evolution by natural selection resulting from pressures imposed by the environment.

Question 26

Define vestigial structures

Answer 26

Vestigial structures are evolutionary remnants of body parts that no longer serve a useful function

Question 27

Define comparative embryology

Answer 27

The study of embryo development of different species

Question 28

Examples and evidence of evolution in comparative embryology

Answer 28

The common features of embryo development found throughout the vertebrate group (fish,reptile,bird and human)include:
All vertebrates possess gill pouches at some stage of development, suggesting that the common ancestor of vertebrates lived in an aquatic environment. These gills develop into internal gills in fish only.
All have a tail.
All have a notochord develops into vertebrae in all vertebrates.
Evidence
All vertebrate embryos look alike during their early development, showing that the different groups evolved from a common ancestor.

Question 29

Process of speciation

Answer 29

1: Variation of characteristics is present in a population
2: The breeding population becomes isolated
3: Different characteristics arise through random genetic drift, mutation and environmental pressures.
4: The environment changes. Because of selection, some characteristics are favoured over others. Those best suited to the environment survive.
5: Survivors reproduce and pass on favourable genes and features to offspring
6: The frequency at which the genes for the new characteristics appear increases
7: The isolated population is now quite different, producing a new species.

Question 30

Peppered moths evolution explanation

Answer 30

An Industrial Revolution had just taken hold. Busy factories started to darken the skies with smoke from burning wood and coal. The sooty pollution blackened tree trunks. In short order, Victorian scientists took note of a change, too, among peppered moths (Biston betularia). A new, all-black form emerged. It came to be called B. betularia carbonaria, or the “charcoal” version. The older form became typica, or the typical form.Scientists have determined that body color in the peppered moth is controlled by a single gene. The allele (version of the gene) for dark body color is dominant, which means that a moth possessing at least one such allele will have a dark body.
In the late 20th century, things began to change. Laws to control pollution phased in. Companies could no longer throw as much sooty pollution into the air. Before long, birds could easily spy the black moths again. Now the carbonaria moths have become rare and typica moths dominate once more.