Evolution and Biodiversity/ Genetics and Evolution Flashcards
Charles Darwin:
Traveled on the HMS Beagle for 5 years for scientific exploration in 1831 to the Galapagos
Came up with the idea of evolution by Natural Selection
1858: Alfred Russel Wallace independently also develops similar theory; they work together
Evolution:
Evolution: the process of cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population
Heritable
Heritable: changes must be passed on genetically from one generation to the next
Cumulative
Cumulative: stresses the fact that one change is not enough to have a major impact on a species; changes don’t just affect one individual but a whole population
Speciation:
Speciation: when a new species arise when enough changes occur within a population that the new species can no longer interbreed with the old
Fossil Record
Fossils: petrified remains/traces of animals and plants
Fossil record: accumulation of evidence from these remains/traces
e.g. skeletons and footprints
Discoveries by Palaeontologists regarding evidence for Earth’s evolutionary past:
Life existed more than 500 million years ago was very different from today
Although the Earth has extensive oceans, fish fossils have only been found in rocks 500 million years old/younger (less than 15% of the 3.5 billion year existence of life on the planet)
Top predators of today (bears, orcas, wolves) didn’t exist at the time of dinosaurs/before
Majority of living organisms today have no similar form in the fossil record
Main conclusion: life on earth is constantly changing over huge timescales
Isotopes
versions of atoms that are heavier/lighter than others
Radioactive decay
process of a radioactive parent isotope changing into a stable daughter isotope
Isotope’s half-life
speed at which radioactive decay occurs (time it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay into a stable daughter isotope)
ageing fossils
Age of rocks/fossils determined by difference of the ratios of isotopes
Fossils with high Carbon-14 levels are younger than bone/shell with low levels
Carbon 14 is radioactive but loses its radioactivity as it gives it off; changes its identity into another atom (Nitrogen -14) RADIOACTIVE DECAY
Why is radioactive decay important?
Ratios of radioactive isotopes (C14 to N14) tells us the age of the fossil
E.g. If there is 12.5% of the radioactive isotope and 87.5^ of the stable isotopes that means that there are three half-lives and the fossil is 17 190 years old
HOWEVER; after a certain number of half lifes, there are few radioactive isotopes so it’s difficult to determine the fossil age with accuracy
BUT there are other radioactive isotopes (potassium-40) that have longer half-lives that can be used
How can age of rocks be determined?
Using Radiometric techniques with 40K to measure the age of rocks formed from magma or lava between 100 000-4.6 billion years ago
SELECTIVE BREEDING;
SELECTIVE BREEDING; farmers/breeders realize that certain varieties of animals have unique combinations of characteristics that didn’t exist previously
E.g. meat or milk is different than that from a few generations ago
Artificial Selection + Evolution
Science of breeding domesticated animals provides a good record of recent changes in heritable characteristics
Animal breeders can see value of the offspring’s characteristics by mating animals
Breeders learn to choose males + females with most desirable genetic characteristics and breed them
ARTIFICIAL SELECTION;
Evidence for evolution based on human choice=
ARTIFICIAL SELECTION; not the driving force of evolution in ecosystems as it is based on human intervention/choice
Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation;
Homologous anatomical structures provide evidence for evolution in dissimilar species
E.g. Five-fingered limb found in animals such as humans, whales and bats; it’s called the pentadactyl limb
general format of pentadactyl limb the same, even though functions may vary
Darwin explains that homologous structures aren’t a coincidence but evidence that these organisms have a common ancestor (all pentadactyl organisms have common ancestry)
Show varied morphology!
Species
Species: must be able to freely interbreed with members of the same species to produce fertile offspring
Species divergence
Process of an evolving population changing significantly so that the production of offspring within a population becomes impossible
E.g. two populations have diverged and a new species evolves from an old one
Adaptive Radiation:
occurs when many similar but distinct species evolved relatively rapidly from a single species/small number of species
why does adaptive radiation happen
Variations within a population allow certain members to exploit a slightly different niche more successfully
Niche:
Niche: position or role within a community of an ecosystem
How does a new species evolve?
By natural selection and presence of some kind of barrier (e.g. mountain range or body of water)
examples of adaptive radiation
- lemurs in madagascar
- Darwin’s finches on Galapagos Islands
-Hawaiian Honeycreepers
Different adaptations of the beak shapes; some for sipping nectar in flowers on Hawaii
explain the adaptive radiation in madagascar lemur species
Lemurs on Madagascar + Comoro Islands; had little competition so a they proliferated a lot
This produced a large variety of offspring with high diversity changes
Some adapted for living on ground instead of trees, while others adapted betwen living in rainforests or deserts
Some lemurs are diurnal others are nocturnal
So many species of lemurs with different specialities= adaptive radiation
No other lemurs in the world; but hey have fossil records in Africa, Europe and Asia= Lemur’s unsuccessful in competing with apes + monkeys; lemur-like organism becomes rare
Explains why continents/islands have prosimians (such as lemurs) or anthropoids (such as monkeys and apes) but not both types of primate
TODAY: lemur species becoming extinct/endangered due to anthropoid activity (human)
Continuous variation + gradual divergence:
example
Saltmarsh grass; within a species that has a wide geographical distribution there can be DNA differences due the climate and soil being different
Saltmarsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora; provides habitat for organisms below and above water); three different plants from Massachusetts, Delaware and Georgia were taken
Hypothesis of Delaware experiment: if there is no genetic variation in species, then all three populations of plants from different latitudes will have similar growth patterns when grown in Delaware (given the same growing conditions of soil, water and light and temperature)
Results:
Southern georgian population grew the most (biomass, height and stem diameter= water warmer in south), whereas northern massachusetts population had least growth
Delaware population showed no difference in growth from other populations in delaware
Difference in growth refutes hypothesis; plants show similar patterns to native locations due to DNA influence (genetic variations in geographical locations)
Selective pressure:
populations adapt to the conditions available to them and some versions of genes will be selected for and others will be selected against so that the populations can best adapt to area
Tipping point; when differences outweigh similarities in two populations so they can’t reproduce anymore
E.g pollen from one species of marsh grass used to pollinate flowers from a southern population, and no seeds or fertile offspring were produced= speciation
Polymorphism:
different versions of a species that can be as a result of a mutation
Transient polymorphism
temporary changes in the form of a species due to environmental changes
example of (transient) polymorphism
Peppered moth lives in temperate climates; Black moths (1% of population) vs white moths (black moths can be easily seen against light colored lichens + preyed upon by birds)
Industrial revolution caused change; black moths can now hide on black lichens therefore their population increased around urban/industrial areas
Clean air laws; promotes the return of light colored moths
Variation
There is variation in populations that results from reproduction
Variation is closely related to how successful an organism is (characteristics can aid it in surviving)
= Natural selection can only occur if there is variation amongst members of the same species
bacteria vs eukaryote
Bacteria are identical (unless mutations) whereas eukaryotes reproduce sexually therefore each offspring is genetically different
In contrast; bacteria have no difference in population, which means that if there is a large change in environment such as pH the bacteria can die
variation affects on alleles
An allele can change over time due to change in environment; only possible if there is more than one form of the allele within the population (e.g. peppered moths had a mutation which gave some a dark color and therefore aided the species in surviving the industrial revolution)
Mutation (as a source of variation)
Can cause genetic diseases which has bad effects
Beneficial mutations can however produce characteristics which aid the survival of a species (e.g. better camouflage for bird or insect)
In each generation, only a few mutations occur
Sexual reproduction is much more powerful source of variation in population due to mixing of genes
Meiosis:
as a source of variation
Enables the production of haploid cells to make gametes
At the end of meiosis, four cells are produced that are genetically different from each other and only contain 50% of the patient’s genome
An individual that reproduces sexually produces large numbers of possible combinations of genes in offspring
Only identical offspring are twins
where does variation in meiosis come from
Process of random orientation during metaphase 1 (lining up of chromosomes in a random order promotes variety in gametes produced)
Process of crossing over; shuffling of genetic material in prophase I
Mixing of two gametes with 50% of parents genetic material (fertilization)
Sexual reproduction + variation
Asexual reproduction (binary fission) doesn’t promote variety
Natural selection only has two options; die or survive (problems of potato famine in Ireland; potatoes produced asexually and died due to infection)
Variety important to natural selection; more possibilities lead to more outcomes; some members of population survive adverse effects while others may be affected negatively (some individuals are adapted better to changes in environment than others)
Egg cell + Sperm cell + Chance= baby!
Sources of variation in a population
Mutations in DNA
Meiosis
Sexual reproduction
what type of adaptions are there
Adapting: Conscious adaptations (made by individuals) vs. Unconconscious adaptations ( made by populations; evolution)
An organism that has characteristics that are well-adapted to its environment is said to be fit; characteristics it poses fit well into environment
adaption vs evolution
Organisms can adapt to change in environment within lifetime, this is not the kind of adaptation referred to an evolution (it’s adapted but not evolved)
E.g. peppered moths and giraffe neck adaptations
natural selection
Natural selection eliminated individuals in population with low fitness, and fittest individuals have higher likelihood of surviving
Too many offspring (pros and cons)
More offspring produced than could ever be produced (e.g. fish laying thousands of eggs, or mushrooms producing thousands of spores; only a few surviving to adulthood)
Paradoxical; production of many offspring needs a lot of energy/nutrients
However it maximizes the chances of offsprings surviving with a low survival rate if there are a lot of them
However many offspring= competition for resources and mates; produces adaptations in individual to find enough resources/mates; only ‘fit’ organisms can reproduce and pass on their traits
Adaptation and survival:
Limited resources= selection of the ‘fittest’ organisms that survive
Individuals survive based on surroundings + compatibility of their characteristics to the surroundings
Steps of evolution by natural selection:
- Overproduction of offspring + natural variation as a result of genetic differences in those offspring
- Useful variations allow some individuals to have a better survival chance
- Harmful variations make it difficult to survive
- Individuals with genetic characteristics that are poorly adapted for their environment tend to be less successful at accessing resources and have less chance of surviving to adulthood
- Individuals with genetic characteristics that are well adapted for their environment tend to be more successful a accessing resources and have a better chance of surviving to maturity; better fitness
- Because they survive to adulthood; they can reproduce and pass on their successful genetic characteristics
- Over many generations; the accumulations of changes in heritable characteristics of a population results in gene pool change (EVOLUTION)
- Individuals with HIGH FITNESS pass on their SUCCESSFUL TRAITS
- 1Individuals with unsuccessfully traits (e.g. deformities) die off
example of fast natural selection
Pesticide resistance in rats and antibiotic resistance in bacteria= examples of natural selection
Mechanism of natural selection can be quick sometimes
Pesticide resistance in rats
Farmers use pesticide to eradicate rats to prevent them from eating crops
Some rats survive the pesticide due to natural variation; better adapted to living in fields and now have less competition for food and mates
Poison resistance gene is favoured so less rats die the next time the farmer uses pesticides
New pesticides must be developed
Immunity develops among lifetime of individual; pesticide resistance however is a change that evolves from one generation to the next (rat is either born with resistance or not)
Characteristics acquired during an organism’s lifetime cannot be passed onto next generation (don’t take part in evolution theory by natural selection)
antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Bacteria can mutate which makes some bacterial resistance to antibiotics
mutations/ modifications to genetic material of bacteria (Plasmid transfer)
Plasmid transfer involves on bacteria donating genetic information to another using plasmids to pass on resistant gene
Overuse of antibiotics leads to production of resistance straints
New antibiotics must be produced + people have to finish their terms
Doctors must minimize use of antibiotics + educate patients
SUMMARY OF EVOLUTION:
Evolution by natural selection
Involve chance (such as variation in population and sexual reproduction and gamete fertilization)
Natural selection favours useful adaptations against harmful ones; survival of the fittest
Heritable changes are passed on, so that each population adapts to its environment accordingly, and others die out
Binomial system for names of species
Binomial nomenclature (e.g. Homo sapiens)
First name is always capitalized and refers to genus
Second name begins with small letter and refers to species
Both are written in italics when typed, or underlined when written by hand
Most words come from latin or greek
Carl Linnaeus consolidated + popularized the system
Objectives of nomenclature system
- To be sure that the organism has a unique name so it can’t be confused with another
- Names must be universally understood regardless of nationality or culture
- Stability must exist within system to not allow people to change names of organisms without valid reasons
naming rules
There is an “International Code of Zoological Nomenclature” that makes this rule
Scientists must refer to principle of priority of oldest valid publication of a name
International conferences discuss these naming tools
Naming new species:
Early days; only two kingdoms (plants and animals)
Nowadays; so many different types of kingdoms and species
Invention of the microscope aided in this
Examples of binomial nomenclature
Equus zerbra
Amoeba amazonas
Gekko geko
Gorilla gorilla
Paramecium caudatum
Laxadonta cylotis (African forest elephant)
Malus domestica (apple tree)
Rules for writing binomial nomenclature:
Genus name is capitalized while species name is not
Both written in italics/underlined
In addition, after these two names the last name of the person who first published the name in a scientific is given as citation
Taxa;
refers to the categories that scientists have generated names for
Used to classify species into many subcategories found in larger categories
Three domains of life:
Three domains of life:
Eukaryote: all life besides Archean and bacteria; membrane bound and membrane bound nucleus
Eubacteria; bacteria
Archean; single-celled organisms distinct from bacteria; live in diverse habitats
SEVEN principal taxa:
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Specie