Fundamental concepts of Evolution Flashcards
Change in living things by descent with modification
Evolution
Change through time as species become modified and diverge to produce multiple descendants
Evolution
Evolution is a change in the ___ characteristics of biological populations over ___ generations - expressed in ___ that are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction
heritable
successive
genes
The concept of evolution is the cornerstone of biology, why? (2)
It provides a framework (unifying principle) for the way that we study and understand the living world
It’s a way of bringing together many diverse aspects of life’s tremendous complexity
Evolution stresses the ___ of all life rather than its ___
relatedness, differences
Connected to Evolutionary Biology (7)
Natural Selection
Cell BIology
Mendelian Genetics
Population Genetics
Evolutionary Ecology
Botany
Palaeontology
Ontogeny is connected with ___
Developmental Biology
Phylogeny is connected with: (4)
Developmental Biology
Microbiology
Genomics
Molecular Biology
V
I
S
T
stands for?
Variation
Inheritance
Selection
Time
In all species, individuals differ in their ___ producing many ___ in their physical features; individuals vary from each other
genetic makeup, variations
Individuals pass some of their ___ to their offspring; parents pass on their parents to their offspring
genetic material
Some individuals have inherited ___ (___) that allows them to better survive or produce more offspring. These offspring, in turn, are more likely to survive and create offspring of their own. As a result, their ___ become more common in the entire population; some variants reproduce more than others
character (genes)
genes
Over time, ___ results in changes in species. These changes may take days, or decades, or millions of years to occur; ___ accumulate over time
Selection, successful variations
___ < Speciation (Species concepts) > ___
Phylogenetics (Macroevolution)
Population genetics (Microevolution)
Microevolution (6)
Definition - small scale changes in gene frequencies of a population over a short period of time
Scale - small-scale evolutionary changes
Time Period - Short time period
Range - Within species or population
Causes - Mutation, selection, gene flow and genetic drift
Detection - Observable through experimental evidence
Macroevolution (6)
Definition - Major evolutionary changes over a longer period of time
Scale - Large scale evolutionary changes
Time period - Over a large time period
Range - Above the level of populations
Causes - Occurs due to extended microevolution
Detection - Not directly observable
Can be drawn to show how every species is related
Tree of life
High altitiude adaptation in humans
Evolutionary adaptation - allows people in TIbet, Andes, and Ethiopia to survive high altitude
Increased Oxygen in haemoglobin
Tolerance to Arsenic
Normal people develop inefficient physiological responses
Increase in breathing and heart rate due to low air pressure
Pulse rate and blood pressure go up sharply
Example of natural selection in action where an antibiotic acts as an environmental pressure
Antibiotic Resistance
One main example of Natural selection in antibiotic resistance
Staphylococcus aureus
The theory of evolution by natural selection (6)
a. all living things consist of a unique combination of chemicals organized in unique ways
b. species’ populations are able to adapt to gradually changing environments
c. Most of these variations have a genetic basis
d. each species produces more offspring than will survive into maturity
e. Those individuals whose variations best fit their environment will be more likely to survive and reproduce
f. by process of natural selection, evolution sorts through these numerous variations to pick the most fit
