final bio exam!!

Question 1

Darwin’s definition of evolution:

Answer 1

“descent with modification”. Evolution is the change in genetic composition of a population from generation to generation

Question 2

The 2 observations and 2 inferences used by Darwin?

Answer 2

1st observation: individuals in a population vary in heritable characteristics
2nd observation: organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support
1st inference: individuals well-adapted to environment leave more offspring than others
2nd inference: overtime, favorable traits accumulate in a population

Question 3

what is natural selection?

Answer 3

It is a process in which individuals with certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals without those traits

Question 4

contrast artificial and natural selection.

Answer 4

artificial: human modification of species by selective breeding. Direction selection should result in evolutionary change.
natural: occurs when individuals who have certain genetically determined adaptions are more likely to survive and reproduce in the environment.

Question 5

what conditions must be met for natural selection?

Answer 5

1. variation must exist in the population.
2. this variation must lead to differences among individuals in lifetime reproductive success
3. variation among individuals must be genetically transmissible to the next generation