Evolution Unit Study Guide Flashcards
Study Guide for Evolution test on Friday
What is the definition of Evolution?
The way living things change over time as traits are passed down through generations.
What is Natural Selection?
Natural selection is when organisms with traits that help them survive in their environment have more babies, passing those traits on.
What are the 5 elements of natural selection?
1: Genetic Variation
2: Environment presents many different challenges
3: Individuals of a species tend to compete with one another to survive
4: Better able to cope with the challenges of their environment tend to leave more offspring
5: Traits of the individuals best suited to a particular environment tend to increase.
What is a Gene pool?
The total genetic diversity found within a population
What are the factors affecting changes in populations?
- Mutations
- Genetic drift
- Artificial selection
- Natural selection
- Sexual selection
- Migration
What is a mutation?
A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to new traits in organisms.
What is genetic drift?
Random changes in allele frequencies due to chance.
What is sexual selection?
A form of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than others to obtain mates.
What is migration in the context of evolution?
The movement of individuals and their genetic material from one population to another, which can affect allele frequencies.
What is genetic equilibrium?
A state in which allele frequencies in a population remain constant over time.
What are the types of selection?
- Directional selection
- Disruptive selection
- Stabilizing selection
What is speciation?
The process by which new and distinct species evolve.
What are the lines of evidence for evolution?
- Embryology
- Molecular biology
- Comparative anatomy (homologous and vestigial structures)
- Biogeography
- Fossils
What is embryology in the context of evolution?
The study of the development of embryos from fertilization to birth, which can show similarities among different species.
What is molecular biology’s role in providing evidence for evolution?
It examines the structure and function of molecules essential to life, revealing genetic similarities between species.
What are homologous structures?
Anatomical features in different species that have a similar structure but may serve different functions.
What are vestigial structures?
Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.
What is biogeography?
The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
What are fossils?
Preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past, providing evidence for evolution.
