Evolution 2 - Adaptation and Mutation

Question 1

Variations Definition

Answer 1

Structural, functional, or physiological differences between individuals.

Question 2

Do all variations become adapations?

Answer 2

No, NOT all variations become adaptations.

Question 3

What determines whether a variable has a positive/negative/no effect on an individuals ability to survive and reproduce? (2 points)

Answer 3

• Individuals possessing a helpful variation are more likely to survive and have a higher chance of passing this variation onto their offspring.
• This will result in variation becoming more frequent, to the point where it becomes a CHARACTERISTIC or TRAIT of the population.

Question 4

What is an example of variation?

Answer 4

-One example of variation between individuals would be puppies in a litter and kittens in a litter not all looking the same.

Question 5

Why is there variation in individuals (particularly in the case of puppies in a litter and kittens in a litter)?

Answer 5

They have inherited different parts of the DNA (called Alleles) from their parents.

Question 6

How is this genetic information expressed in an individual? (2 points)

Answer 6

• Some of this genetic information is expressed in the phenotype of each individual, which includes its physical appearance and behaviour.
• But much of it has no visible effect and remains part of each individual’s genetic make-up and continues to be passed on to next generations.

Question 7

Genetic Variation Definition

Answer 7

In a population, it results from the variety of genetic information in all individuals of the population.

Question 8

Mutation Definition

Answer 8

A change in the genetic material (DNA) of an organism.

Question 9

Mutations are what?…

Answer 9

The only source of new genetic variation when inherited.

Question 10

What continuously happens in the DNA of all living organisms?

Answer 10

Mutation is continuously happening in the DNA of all living organisms.

Question 11

How can a Mutation occur?

Answer 11

It can occur spontaneously when DNA is copied.

Question 12

What can a Mutation be caused by?

Answer 12

It can be caused by ultraviolet radiation (or other environmental agents).

Question 13

What happens after a Mutation?

Answer 13

-The cell could die.
-The cell could malfunction.
-The cell could multiply more than it should and form a tumour.

Question 14

In what way can Mutations be harmful?

Answer 14

-Mutations that drastically change the shape or structure of DNA can be harmful to an organism.

Question 15

Are all Mutations harmful?

Answer 15

No, not all mutations are harmful.

Question 16

How are Mutations passed on/?

Answer 16

Mutations are only passed on through gametes (sexually reproducing cells), and not somatic cells (which make up most of the cells of your body).

Question 17

Selective Advantage Definition

Answer 17

A genetic advantage of one organism over its competitors.

Question 18

What does Selective Advantage cause?

Answer 18

-Selective Advantage causes an organism to be favoured in terms of survival and reproduction.

Question 19

What is an example of how Selective Advantage causes an organism to be favoured in terms of survival and reproduction?

Answer 19

It helps an organism survive changing environmental conditions and reproduce.

Question 20

How long does Mutation take?

Answer 20

How long Mutation takes all depends on the organism.

Question 21

Why does how long Mutation take all depend on the organism? (2 points)

Answer 21

• Those that reproduce quickly and have short generations will be seen to show the passing of traits more quickly (this is why Darwin’s Finches adapted in just a few hundred years and why humans haven’t changed too much in a few thousand years!)
• Insects, bacteria, and viruses are all good examples of organisms that have very short life spans, reproduce and adapt quickly to changing environments

Question 22

What are the three types of Mutation?

Answer 22

• Beneficial
• Neutral
• Negative

Question 23

What is a beneficial mutation? (2 points)

Answer 23

• A mutation that has a positive effect on the organism in which it occurs.
  -It leads to new versions of proteins that help organisms adapt to changes in their environment.

Question 24

How does beneficial mutation affect evolution? (2 points)

Answer 24

• Beneficial mutations are essential for evolution to occur.
• They increase an organism’s chances of surviving or reproducing, so they are likely to become more common over time.

Question 25

What is an example of beneficial mutation? (2 points)

Answer 25

• Mutations in many bacteria that allow them to survive in the presence of antibiotic drugs.
• The mutations lead to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Question 26

What are negative mutations? (2 points)

Answer 26

-Mutations that have a negative effect on the organism in which they occur.
-They cause harmful changes in gene expression.

Question 27

How does negative mutation affect evolution?

Answer 27

-Harmful mutations affect evolution, because they can remove individuals that might be carrying adaptive alleles at other genes.

Question 28

What is an example of negative mutation? (3 points)

Answer 28

-Two examples of negative mutations would be a genetic disorder, and cancer.
-A genetic order is a disease caused by a mutation in one or a few genes.
- Cancer is a disease in which cells grow out of control and form abnormal masses of cells.

Question 29

What are neutral mutations?

Answer 29

-Mutations that have no effect on the organism in which they occur.
-They are the alterations in the DNA that are non-detrimental and non-beneficial for the survival and reproduction of the organism.

Question 30

How does neutral mutation contribute to evolution?

Answer 30

Neutral mutations, despite having no effect on fitness, have been shown to affect evolution by providing access to new phenotypes through subsequent mutations that would not have been available otherwise.

Question 31

What is an example of neutral mutation? (2 points)

Answer 31

-Different eye colours is observed in human beings due to mutation.
-This change in eye colour does not have any effect on reproduction or survival.

Question 32

Adaptation vs Mutation

Answer 32

• An adaptation is a mutation that helps an organism survive in its environment.
  -Because of the helpful nature of the mutation, it is passed down from one generation to the next.
  -As more and more organisms inherit the mutation, the mutation becomes a typical part of the species.
  -The mutation has become an adaptation.