Evolution Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is evolution?
The process by which living organisms change over successive generations due to genetic variation and natural selection
What does evolution explain?
How species adapt to their environments and how biodiversity develops over time
Who first proposed the theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
What was Darwin’s theory of evolution?
Single species was able to evolve into a new species over time due to natural selection. Natural selection occurs due to the wide range of variation between individuals of the same species. Adaptations that benefit the individual allow it to survive, breed and pass on those characteristics. Just as some species evolve, others can become extinct.
What are the three types of evolution?
- Divergent
- Convergent
- Parallel
What is divergent evolution?
The process where members of a species become more and more different, eventually resulting in two new species
When does divergent evolution occur?
When closely related species diversify to new habitats
What is an example of divergent evolution?
Dogs and Foxes evolved from Wolves
What is convergent evolution?
The process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar physical characteristics
When does convergent evolution occur?
When species of different ancestry begin to share similar traits because of a shared environment
What is an example of convergent evolution?
Birds, Bats and Butterflies all share similar characteristics but have no genetic link
What is parallel evolution?
The process by which a similar trait develops in related, but distinct, species
When does parallel evolution occur?
Occurs between species that do not occupy the same or similar niches in a given habitat
What is an example of parallel evolution?
Woolly Mammoth and Elephants evolved independently but maintained the same level of similarity
What are selection pressures?
Something that causes the adaptation to occur
Environmental factors that influence which traits become more common or rare within a population, driving evolutionary change
