Evolution

Question 1

Who noted similarities between apes and humans and speculated that they may have a common ancestor

Answer 1

Buffon (1707-1788)

Question 2

What were curviers additions to evolution?

Answer 2

Found that each stratum of rock is characterized by a unique group of fossil species
Proposed earth experienced destructive natural events (called revolutions) that called extinction of numerous species

Question 3

What is a species

Answer 3

Population that can interbreed and produce a group of reproductively viable offspring

Question 4

What is speciation

Answer 4

Thé formation of a new species

Question 5

What is transformation/graduation?

Answer 5

A type of speciation which is the gradual development of a new species as a result of mutation and adaptation to changing environmental conditions, the old species is gradually replaced

Question 6

What is divergence?

Answer 6

A pathway for speciation, one or more species arise from a parent species that continues to exist

Question 7

What is the most common mechanism of divergence?

Answer 7

Divergent speciation

Question 8

What are the three steps to divergent speciation?

Answer 8

1. A physical or biological barrier separates a population into groups that can no longer interbreed (genetic changes WILL NOT be shared)
2. Natural selection works on the groups independently (the greater the environmental pressures, the greater the differences between the groups)
3. In time, accumulated genetic differences prevent interbreeding - meaning that distinct species have been formed

Question 9

What is adaptive radiation?

Answer 9

The diversification of a common ancestral species into a variety of species all of which are differently adapted (ex. Galapagos finches)

Question 10

What is gradualism?

Answer 10

Pace of evolution : gradual changes occur steadily in a linear fashion. Big changes like the other evolution of a new species) are a result of many smaller changes
- fossil records do not support this theory as species suddenly appear and disappear from the fossil record

Question 11

What is punctuated equilibrium?

Answer 11

Pace of evolution : there are long periods of little or no change that is “punctuated” or interrupted by periods of speciation

Question 12

What are homologous structures?

Answer 12

Similar origin but different functions
(Front flipper of a dolphin and forelimb of a dog are homologous structures)

Question 13

What is analogous structures?

Answer 13

Similar in function and appearance but not in origin. (Wings of an insect and wing of bird are analogous structures)

Question 14

What’s embryology

Answer 14

Study of organisms in the early stages of development

Question 15

What’s biogeography

Answer 15

Study of past and present distribution of organisms
Geographically close environment deserts and Forrest’s in South America are more likely to have related species than far ones (desert in Africa and Australia)
Animals found on islands resemble animals on the closest continent

Question 16

What were Lyells additions to evolution?

Answer 16

Proposed geological change was slow and subtle suggesting the earth was more than 6000 years old

Question 17

What were Lamarcks additions to evolution

Answer 17

Believed that characteristics acquired during an organisms lifetime (ie large muscles) could be passed onto its offspring
Called this inheritance of acquired characteristics