Evolution Flashcards
What are analogous structures?
Structures of different species having similar functions but not from a common ancestor.
Ex. Wings of insects vs. wings of birds
What is a vestigial organ?
An organ that was once useful but now has no purpose.
Ex. Appendix, wisdom teeth
How long has life been on the planet? (Fossil record)
3.5 billion years
Types of fossils:
- Impression fossil: contains prints or impressions
- Replacement fossil: when the animal rots and it’s organic parts are replaced by a hard mineral which creates a replacement
How long ago did dinosaurs disappear? (Fossil record)
65 million years ago
How are the ages of rocks determined?
Radiometric dating
•uranium turns to lead
How are the ages of fossils determined?
Carbon dating
• The less carbon, the older the fossil
Lamarck’s theory was:
• Traits were passed down from parents (Parent missing a finger = child missing a finger) this is called the inheritance of acquired traits
• also believed in spontaneous generation
•
Darwin’s theory was:
- All life has descended from common ancestors (with change)
- idea of ‘natural selection’ (Wallace)
- survival of the fittest
Wallace’s theory was:
Along with Darwin, came up with the idea of natural selection
Malthus’ theory was:
- Famine + disease result from high population
- All species produce more offspring that are able to survive
- The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man
- Populations stay within limits by a high death rate, or a low birth rate
Recombination means:
The process of forming new allelic combination in offspring by exchanges between genetic materials (as exchange of DNA sequences between DNA molecules).
Reproductive isolation is:
Reproductive isolation refers to the situation where different species may live in the same area, but properties of individuals prevent them from interbreeding.
Comparative biochemistry is:
The study of differences in chemical processes among species of animals. For example, the difference between carnivorous species of animals and herbivores is included in comparative biochemistry.
The gene pool is:
The stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.
Adaptive radiation is:
•An event in which a lineage rapidly diversifies, with the newly formed lineages evolving different adaptations.
•Different factors may trigger this
Ex. Birds of paradise
Variation means:
Any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences or by the effect of environmental factors
Convergent evolution is:
Organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments
Comparative embryology is:
The study of how different types of organisms compare to one another during their fetal stages
A genetic drift is:
variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.
Mutations are:
Mutations are caused by:
- A permanent or heritable change
* environmental changes, errors during DNA replication
Geographic isolation is:
Reproductive isolation is:
You need one of two things for speciation to occur:
• Geographic - physical barrier divides a population, these 2 groups are unable to mate.
• Reproductive - prevention of mating between formerly interbreeding groups, or, the inability of these groups to produce fertile offspring
Extinction occurs when:
Extinction occurs when a species is diminished because of environmental changes or because of evolutionary changes (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, etc.)
A new species is considered “new” when:
If it no longer interbreeds with a parental species even though they are found together in the same area
