Evolution test Flashcards
Define evolution
Change in characteristics of a population that occurs over successive generations
Define adaptation
A structure,physiology (body mechanism or process) or behaviour that helps an organism survive better
Ex camouflage, walking stick behaviour
What is colour controlled by
A single heritable gene oh
Define natural selection
The process where the characteristics of a population change because individuals with certain heritable traits survive specific local conditions and pass on these heritable traits
What are the 3 conditions that need to be met for natural selection
Variation with the population
Differences in survival and reproduction (I.E Fitness) due to variation
Heritability of characteristics from parent to offspring
Explain why variation within the population must be met for natural selection
If we were all identical all of us would live and die the same way. Being different gives us each advantages and disadvantages in life. Chasing natural selection
Explain why differences in survival and reproductions due to variation must happen for natural selection
If all organisms were the same except one had a mutation, this mutation would increase chances of survival. BUT it is only an adaption if the mutation occurs in the offspring. Has to have an impact in the population over time. This ads will not fit into natural selection if it does not reproduce
Why does heritability of characteristics from parent to offspring have to happen for natural selection
If this mutation/fitness/special trait does not pass on the the offspring the mutation does not impact the population. Mutation must be inheritable
Define fitness
How well an organism “fits” into its current environment; greater the fitness the greater the chance of reproducing and Producing offspring who can survive to produce …”survival of the fittest”
What is selective pressure
Environment experts a selective pressure, thus selects for and against certain traits
Ex:the soot in Manchester
Or hunting or killing of individuals with a desirable trait (like elephant tusks example)
What are the four types of selection
Stabilizing
Disruptive
Directional
Sexual
What is stabilizing selection
Favours an intermediate phenotype (the physical representation of a genetic trait)
Reduces variation and improves the adaption of the population to aspects that remain constant
Bell chart
What is directional selection
When individuals at one end of the curve have higher fitness and are favoured more than individuals in the middle or at the other end
The result is a shift in the distribution curve in that direction
What is disruptive selection
When individuals at both of the extremes (upper and lower ends) of a trait are both more fit and are favoured over the average individuals in the population
What is sexual selection
When individuals of the same sex differ in their mating success and that differences is correlated to the presence of absence of a particular trait, that trait is said to be the result of sexual selection.
Traits that provide no benefit to survival that increase the likelihood of the male acquiring a mate are examples of sexual selection. The precedes of the trait may indicate genetic quality
What is female choice
Female has a greater cost to reproduction
Looking for good genes in the male to pass on to her offspring
What was George’s curviers theory for evolution
Discovered history of life was buried in layers in the rocks and that these layers tend to have unique groups of fossils and the deeper you go into the rock the more dissimilar life was from mordern life. saw that extinctions occurred and new species arrived. He proposed the theory of catastrophism.
Catastrophism: catastrophes destroyed species in an area and species that all ready existed repopulated area this no new species arose. They only move about
What was Jean Baptiste Lemarcks theory for evolution
Inheritance of acquired characteristics
Changes through use and disuse. Ex:giraffes neck, elephants trunk.
Also proposed that organisms were driven from simple to increasingly more complex forms. Life arises spontaneously in microscopic form and through the inheritance of acquired traits life became more complex until perfection is achieved
What was Charles Lyells theory for evolution
Uniformitarianism
Thought that the world changed at a uniform rate. In his mind the history of the world was vast without direction and that changes occurred at a uniform rate
(Without direction meaning not being guided by the supernatural)
Darwin applied these ideas into biological gradualism. Evolution occurred slowly and very gradually, and operate at a uniform rate
What was the 4 pieces of evidence Darwin had for uniformitarianism
1) life in temperate regions of South America were much more similar to life in South American tropics than life in European temperate regions
2) fossils found by Darwin looked very similar to living animals in the region
3) plants and animals living on the Galápagos Islands closely resembled life on the west coast of South America (nearest continental coast)
4) species of animals varied from island to island
Can evolution occur without genetic variation
No
Define biological species
Population that is reproductively compatible, producing fertile offspring