Evolution Flashcards
What is the source of variations in species?
Mutations in the DNA
Variations arise during the S-Phase of interphase.
What is adaptation in the context of evolution?
An evolutionary process that allows for a species to survive better
Adaptations are often a result of selective pressures.
How do organisms that grow and reproduce rapidly influence mutation rates?
They may have more mutations that could lead to more variations
Example: Bacteria reproduce quickly, leading to mutations that confer resistance.
What is natural selection?
An environmental pressure on a population that gives individuals with advantageous traits a selective advantage.
Define fitness in evolutionary biology.
The ability to survive and reproduce.
What is artificial selection?
Humans select certain individuals with desirable traits
Examples include animal breeding and crop farming.
What does monoculture refer to?
Populations that are genetically similar or identical.
What is paleontology?
The study of fossils.
What are strata in geological terms?
The different layers of rock formed over time.
What does catastrophism suggest about the layers of strata?
Each layer was the result of catastrophic disasters that wiped out species.
Who proposed the theory of uniformitarianism?
Lyell.
What is the main idea behind uniformitarianism?
Changes are slow and gradual over time.
What did Lamarck theorize about acquired traits?
Beneficial traits acquired over a lifetime could be passed on to offspring.
Who is credited with the concept of natural selection?
Darwin.
What are homologous structures?
Similar/shared structures between distinct and unrelated species.
But these structures serve a complete different function
