Evolution

Question 1

Biological evolution, the observable facts

Answer 1

A. Change in species over time
B. Change in gene frequencies from generation to generation
C. A Process of change

Question 2

Proposed mechanism for evolution

Answer 2

natural selection

Question 3

natural selection requires

Answer 3

1. Genetic diversity
2. differential reproduction by individuals with the most fit genes
3. Increase in those genes within population

Question 4

carolus Linnaeus

Answer 4

Binomial Nomenclature    
Genus species
2. nested groupings into increasingly 
specific categories based on morphology
 K P C O F G S Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 5

stratification

Answer 5

rock laid down in layers, oldest at bottom
fossils in strata show when organisms lived
order of appearance Older fossils more dissimilar to modern
species appear and disappear

Question 6

Cuvier

Answer 6

catastrophism

catastrophes destroyed species in an area new species moved in

Question 7

Lamarck

Answer 7

one of many to propose that life evolves as environments change
first to propose mechanism:
use and disuse
inheritance of acquired characteristics

Question 8

Pre Darwin people/ ideas

Answer 8

Carolus Linnaeus
stratification
cuvier
Lamarck

Question 9

Darwins contemporaries

Answer 9

Charles Lyell
Thomas malthus
Alfred Wallace

Question 10

Charles lyell

Answer 10

Geologist
Theory of Uniformity:
Natural processes observed today are the same as processes acting in the past at same rate
contradicted young earth theory
millions of years

Question 11

Thomas malthus

Answer 11

1. war and famine result from human overpopulation

2. Other organisms also produce more individuals than can survive

Question 12

Alfred Wallace

Answer 12

1. first to publish Natural Selection as a mechanism for evolution
2. ideas nearly identical to Darwin’s

Question 13

Charles Darwin

Answer 13

Origin of Species

extensive evidence of natural selection

Question 14

Origin of species three main ideas

Answer 14

1) Unity of Life: shared characteristics attributed to shared common ancestor
2) Diversity of Life: due to descent with modification
3) Match between organisms and environments: due to adaptation

Question 15

Artificial selection

Answer 15

selective breeding

can produce visible change over a life-time

Question 16

Darwins inference over artificial selection

Answer 16

If artificial selection can produce rapid change….then natural selection could produce dramatic change given enough time

Question 17

Darwins inference over overpopulation (malthus)

Answer 17

survival most likely for those best fit to their environment

Question 18

Darwins inference over members of a population vary in inherited traits

Answer 18

If only some organisms can survive then those with best traits are more likely to survive

Question 19

natural selection four parts

Answer 19

overproduction
inherited variation
struggle to survive (best fit)
successful reproduction

Question 20

morphological evidence example

Answer 20

mammal neck bones and bird neck bone differences

Question 21

mammal and bird neck bone differences

Answer 21

mammal neck bones 7, giraffe neck vertebrae are each elongated no new bones,
bird neck bones 13-25, birds with short neck have curve in neck vertebrae, not fewer vertebrae

Question 22

fitness

Answer 22

ability to pass on its genes:

survive, mate, fertile offspring reproduce

Question 23

adaptation

Answer 23

: inherited traits that improve fitness in a given environment

1. individuals can NOT adapt its genetic!!
2. only populations adapt over generations

Question 24

theory of evolution parts

Answer 24

speciation
adaptive radiation
universal common ancestor

Question 25

speciation

Answer 25

one species branches into 2 new species (ancestral species gone)

Question 26

adaptive radiation

Answer 26

one species gives rise to many species (common after mass extinctions)

1. individuals disperse to new environments
2. adapting to new environment causes them to change

Question 27

universal common ancestor parts

Answer 27

all started from some single celled organisms
1. ‘the unity of life’
2.universal genetic code DNA, RNA
3. shared genes (homeotic genes)
4. Semiconservative replication
5.transcription 
/translation (Met)
6. shared proteins(DNA and RNA polymerase)

Question 28

direct observation with examples

Answer 28

species change over time
ex Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance
weeds develop resistance to roundup

Question 29

Grants finch research

Answer 29

recorded beak depth of all finches on an island over 30 years
after drought recorded larger beaks

Question 30

homology

Answer 30

similarities resulting from common ancestor

Question 31

homologous structures

Answer 31

anatomical features
same underlying structure
may have adapted to different function

Question 32

Embryo homology

Answer 32

can be lost in adult, ex; pharyngeal arches – all chordates (vertebrates)
post anal tail – all chordates

Question 33

chordate limbs

Answer 33

same bones just different shape due to different function of appendage

Question 34

vestigial structures

Answer 34

inherited from ancestor but no longer used
explains presence of useless structures
pelvic girdle & femur in whale & snake

Question 35

molecular homologies

Answer 35

same DNA/ protein
all organisms homologous DNA structure
Many homologous DNA genes
1. some have developed a new function, some still same function, some vestigial
a. genes for ribosome subunits homologous between humans and bacteria

Question 36

fossil record

Answer 36

document formation of new species by sequential fossils

Question 37

biogeography

Answer 37

Geographic distribution of species
endemic species
similar species from different continents not genetically similar

Question 38

endemic species

Answer 38

ancestor from mainland
adaptive radiation
homologies shared with mainland species
island species all share: homologous structures and proteins/DNA

Question 39

convergent evolution

Answer 39

Similar species from different continents not genetically similar