evolution

Question 1

theory of evolution

Answer 1

• replaced the theory of special creation

- species evolved over time

Question 2

theory of special creation

Answer 2

• each species is a unique type created by god

Question 3

how are fossils evidence for evolution?

Answer 3

• they are physical traces of organisms
• they can be dated back with various techniques
• they provide history of life

Question 4

what are vestigial traits?

Answer 4

-structures that have no function but it’s similar to a functional structure in a related species

Question 5

what can vestigial traits show?

Answer 5

• evolution happens in gradual steps

Question 6

how is extinction evidence for evolution?

Answer 6

• many fossils have been left of organisms that no longer exist and shows that species are changing
• however this isn’t convincing evidence

Question 7

what are transitional forms and why are they relevant?

Answer 7

• when a species disappears from the fossil record (a collection of all known fossils) a similar species often appears (usually in the same geographic area)
• this is consistent with species evolving

Question 8

why are relationships between species important?

Answer 8

• if species evolved from a common ancestor, it’s expected that there would be evidence to show that they would be related

Question 9

what are geographic relationships?

Answer 9

• the concept that species from the same area seem to be related
• supports the idea that these species originally came from a common ancestor

Question 10

what is homology and how do they support evolution?

Answer 10

• a similarity due to common ancestry

- similarities due to homology are widespread which shows how strong evolution can be

Question 11

genetic homology

Answer 11

• similarity at the DNA/genetic level

- the genetic code is basically shared by all living organisms

Question 12

developmental homology

Answer 12

homology in the traits of embryos (developing organisms)

Question 13

structural homology

Answer 13

similarity at the level of developed organisms

Question 14

how can we identify homologies/ know similarities are due to common ancestry?

Answer 14

• the idea of homologies seem to explain many observed patterns
• organisms fall naturally into groups
• genetic & morphological evidence seems to agree with homology

Question 15

who developed the theory of natural selection?

Answer 15

lamark

- not he was wrong in a sense as he thought acquired characteristics were inherited

Question 16

the 4 ways that natural selection drives evolution

Answer 16

• variation
• heritability
• differential reproductive success
• selection

Question 17

what is variation?

Answer 17

the individuals in a population must have variation in their traits

Question 18

what is heritability?

Answer 18

the varying traits that the individuals must have must be able to be passed down from generation to generation

Question 19

what is differential reproductive success?

Answer 19

in each generation, some organisms must have more offspring than others

Question 20

what is selection?

Answer 20

the reproductive success isn’t random but must be able to be influenced by the trait differences

Question 21

whats the important thing that must be remembered about natural selection?

Answer 21

natural selection acts on individuals but only populations evolve

Question 22

2 things that must have for evolution by natural selection to occur

Answer 22

heritable variation in traits & selection (differential reproductive success) based on these traits

Question 23

what is darwinian fitness?

Answer 23

• the ability to do well under natural selection

- like better reproductive success, with heritable traits q

Question 24

what are the components of darwinian fitness?

Answer 24

survival, growth, reproduction

Question 25

what are the other models for evolution?

Answer 25

• inheritance of acquired characteristics (lamark)

- goal directed evolution

Question 26

what is the inheritance of acquired characteristics?

Answer 26

• the idea that individuals change in response to their environment and pass these changes off on their offspring
• now it’s known that individuals do change because of their environment, these traits are usually non heritable

Question 27

what is goal directed evolution?

Answer 27

• the idea that individuals evolve towards specific goals

- if the organism is towards a goal, it should basically move in that direction the whole time

Question 28

why is it not goal direction evolution occurring?

Answer 28

• there is a long of evidence against this (vestigial traits, bidirectional evolution)

Question 29

what is adaptation?

Answer 29

• the genetic change that increases an organism’s fitness

- its slow, doesn’t occur as a direct response to the environment, and can be passed off to offspring

Question 30

what is acclimation?

Answer 30

• the ability of an organism to response directly with the environment
• acclimation doesn’t effect the organism’s traits

Question 31

why do individuals acclimate?

Answer 31

• it’s probably evolved because acclimation is beneficial

Question 32

do organisms evolve for the good of the species?

Answer 32

• no animals adapt for the good of themselves (selfish)

Question 33

is adaptation always positive?

Answer 33

• no there can be some downsides to some adaptations (trade-offs)