Handout 1 Flashcards
inherited adaptation of an organism that enhances its survival and reproduction in a specific environment
adaptation
period of evolutionary change in which groups of organisms form many new species whose adaptations allow them to fill different ecological roles in their communities
adaptive radiation
any of the alternate forms of a gene that may produce distinguishable phenotypic effects
allele
having characteristics that are similar because of convergent evolution, not homology
analogous
the selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals to encourage the occurrence of desirable traits
artificial selection
the study of the past and present geographic distribution of species
biogeography
the use of computers, software, and mathematical models to process and integrate biological information from large data sets
bioinformatics
the scientific study of life
biology
the fauna and flora together, all living organisms at a location, in the atmosphere, on land or in the oceans, including derived dead organic matter, such as litter, soil organic matter and oceanic detritus; the entire portion of earth inhabited by life; the sum of all the planets ecosystems
biosphere
genetic drift that occurs when the size of a population is reduced, as by natural disaster or human actions. Typically, the surviving population is no longer genetically representative of the original population
bottleneck effect
the principle that events in the past occurred suddenly and were caused by different mechanisms than those operating today
catastrophism
a cellular structure carrying genetic material, found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells- each of these consists of one very ling DNA molecule and associated proteins. (in bacteria these usually consist of a singular circular DNA molecule and associated proteins in the nucleoid region, which is not membrane bound)
chromosome
a graded change in a character along a geographic axis
cline
all the organisms that inhibit a particular area; an assemblage of populations of different species living close enough together for potential interaction
convergent evolution
a double stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule, consisting of nucleotide monomers with a deoxiribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of a cells proteins
DNA - deoxiribonucleic acid
(1) a taxonomic category above the kingdom level (2) a discrete structural and functional region of a protein
domain
all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; one or more communities and the physical environment around them
ecosystem
new properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases
emergent properties
referring to a species that is confined to a specific geographic area
endemica
descent with modification; the idea that living species are descendants of ancestral species that were different from the present-day ones; also defined more narrowly as the change in the genetic composition of a population from generation to generation
evolution
a type of cell with a membrane- enclosed nucleus and membrane- enclosed organelles
eukaryotic cell
a branching diagram that reflects a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms
evolutionary tree
in linnean classification, the taxonomic category above genus
family
genetic drift that occurs when a few individuals become isolated from a larger population and form a new population whose gene pool composition is not reflective of that of the original population
founder effect
the process by which info encoded in dna directs the synthesis of proteins, or in some cases, rna’s that are not translated into proteins and instead function as RNA’s
gene expression
the transfer of alleles from one population to another, resulting from the movement of fertile individuals or their gametes
gene flow
the aggregate of all copies of every type of allele at all loci in every individual in a population. the term is also used in a more restricted sense as the aggregate of alleles for just one or a few loci in a population
gene pool
the scientific study of heredity and hereditary variation
genetics
a process in which chance events cause unpredictable fluctuations in allele frequencies from generation to the next; effects are most pronounced in small populations
genetic drift
differences among individuals in the composition of their genes or other DNA segments
genetic variation
the study of whole sets of genes and their interactions within a species, as well as genome comparisons between species
genomics
a taxonomic category above the species level, designated by the first word of a species 2 part scientific name
genus
increase in temp and change in weather patterns all across the planet, due mostly to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels from the burning of fossil fuels- the increase in temp, called global warming is a major aspect
global climate change
the principle that frequencies of alleles and genotypes in a population remain constant from generation to generation, provided that only mendalian segregation and recombination of alleles are at work
Hardy-weinberg principle
similarity in characteristics resulting from shared ancestry
homology
structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry
homologous structures
a testable explanation for a set of observations based on the available data and guided by inductive reasoning - is narrower in scope than a theory
hypothesis
evolutionary change below the species level; change in the allele frequencies in a population over generations
microevolution
a change in the nucleotide sequence of an organisms DNA or in the DNA or RNA of a virus
mutation
a process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits
natural selection
a form of regulation in which accumulation of an end product of a process slows the process; in physiology, a primary mechanism of homeostasis, whereby a change in the variable triggers a response that counteracts the initial change
negative feedback
the branch of ecology concerned with the morphological, physiological, and behavioural ways in which individual organisms meet the challenges posed by their biotic and abiotic environments
organismal ecology
the scientific study of fossils
palaontology
the supercontinent that formed near the end of the Paleozoic era, when plate movements brought all the landmasses on earth together
pangea
the conversion of light energy to chemical energy that is stored in sugars or other organic compounds, occurs in plants, algae and certain prokaryotes
photosynthesis
a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring
population
a form of regulation in which an end product of a process speeds up that process; in physiology, a control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers a response that reinforces or amplifies the change
positive feedback
a type of cell lacking a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane enclosed organelles (eg, archaea have these type of cells)
prokaryotic cells
an informal term applied to any eukaryote that is not, plant animal or fungus. most are unicellular, though some are colonial or multicellular
protist
the contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation, relative to the contributions of other individuals in the population
relative fitness
a rock layer formed when new layers of sediment cover older ones and compress thems
stratum
an approach to studying biology that aims to model the dynamic behaviour of whole biological systems based on a study of the interactions among the systems partss
systems biology
a scientific discipline concerned with naming and classifying the diverse forms of life
taxonomy
an explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence
theory
the principle that mechanisms of change are constant over time
uniformitarianism
concept 1.1 theme 1
new properties emerge at each level in the biological heirarchy
concept 1.1 theme 2
organisms interact with other organisms and the physical environment
concept 1.1 theme 3
life requires energy transfer and transformation
concept 1.1 theme 4
structure and function are correlated at all levels of biological organization
concept 1.1 theme 5
the cell is an organisms basic unit of structure and function
concept 1.1 theme 6
the continuity of life is based on heritable information in the form of DNA
concept 1.1 theme 7
feedback mechanisms regulate biological systems
concept 2.1 core theme
evolution accounts for the unity and diversity of life
concept 2.1
the darwinian revolution challenges traditional views of a young earth inhabited by unchanging species
concept 2.2
descent with modification by natural selection explains the adaptations of organisms and the unity of diversity of life
concept 2.3
evolution is supported by an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence
concept 2.4
genetic variation makes evolution possible
concept 2.5
the hardy-weinberg equation can be used to test whether a population is evolving
concept 2.6
natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow can alter allele frequencies in a population
concept 2.7
natural selection appears to be the only mechanism that consistently causes adaptive evolution
Which of the following is not a theme that unifies biology?
D. reductionism
Which of the following is a false statement regarding DNA?
D. All forms of life are composed of cells that have a membrane-enclosed
nucleus
Which of these is a correct representation of the hierarchy of biological organization
from least to most complex?
C. molecule, intestinal cell organelle, intestinal cell, intestinal tissue, digestive
system, organism.
Organisms interact with their environments, exchanging matter and energy. For
example, plant chloroplasts convert the energy of sunlight into
C. the potential energy of chemical bonds
The dynamics of any ecosystem include the following major processes
E. the flow of energy from sunlight to producers and then to consumers, and
the recycling of chemical nutrients.
For most ecosystems __________ is (are) the ultimate source of energy, and energy
leaves the ecosystem in the form of __________
A. sunlight; heat
The lowest level of biological organization that can perform all the activities required
for life is the
B. cell - for example, a skin cell.
Which of the following statements concerning prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is not
correct?
B. Prokaryotic cells contain small membrane-enclosed organelles
Which of the following is reflective of the phrase ʺthe whole is greater than the sum
of its partsʺ?
B. emergent properties
When blood glucose level rises, the pancreas secretes insulin, and as a result blood glucose level declines. When blood glucose level is low, the pancreas secretes glucagon, and as a result blood glucose level rises. Such regulation of blood glucose level is the result of
C. negative feedback
Which branch of biology is concerned with the naming and classifying of organisms?
C. taxonomy.
Species that are in the same __________ are more closely related than species that
are only in the same __________
B. family; order
Two species that belong to the same genus must also belong to the same
A. kingdom.
B. phylum.
C. class.
D. order.
E. all of the above
Which of these is reflective of the hierarchical organization of life from most to least
inclusive?
C. kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
A water sample from a hot thermal vent contained a single-celled organism that had a cell wall but lacked a nucleus. What is its most likely classification?
B. Archaea
Which of these provides evidence of the common ancestry of all life?
B. the universality of the genetic code
Charles Darwin proposed a mechanism for descent with modification which stated that organisms of a particular species are adapted to their environment when they possess
D. inheritable traits that enhance their survival and reproductive success in the
local environment
Which of these individuals is most likely to be successful in an evolutionary sense?
B. an organism that dies after 5 days of life but leaves 10 offspring, all of whom
survive to reproduce.
In a hypothetical world, every 50-years people over 6 feet tall are eliminated from the population. Based on your knowledge of natural selection, you would predict that the average height of the human population will
B. gradually decline
Through time, the lineage that led to modern whales shows a change from four-limbed land animals to aquatic animals with two limbs that function as flippers. This change is best explained by
D. natural selection
During a study session about evolution, one of your fellow students’ remarks, ʺThe giraffe stretched its neck while reaching for higher leaves; its offspring inherited longer necks as a resultʺ. Which statement is most likely to be helpful in correcting this student’s misconception?
A. Characteristics acquired during an organism’s life are generally not passed on through genes.
As a young biologist, Charles Darwin had expected the living plants of temperate
South America would resemble those of temperate Europe, but he was surprised to find that they more closely resembled the plants of tropical South America. The
biological explanation for this observation is most properly associated with the field
of
E. biogeography.
Charles Darwin was the first person to propose
D. a mechanism for evolution that was supported by evidence.
Natural selection is based on all of the following except
E. individuals adapt to their environments and, thereby, evolve
Which statement about natural selection is most correct?
D. Well-adapted individuals leave more offspring, and thus contribute more to
the next generation’s gene pool, than do poorly adapted individuals.
Given a population that contains genetic variation, what is the correct sequence of
the following events, under the influence of natural selection? 1. Well-adapted
individuals leave more offspring than do poorly adapted individuals; 2. A change
occurs in the environment; 3. Genetic frequencies within the population change; 4. Poorly adapted individuals have decreased survivorship
A. 2 → 4 → 1 → 3
To observe natural selection’s effects on a population, which of these must be true?
A. One must observe more than one generation of the population.
B. The population must contain genetic variation
E. A and B only
During drought years on the Galapagos, small, easily eaten seeds become rare, leaving mostly large, hard-cased seeds that only birds with large beaks can eat. If a drought persists for several years, what should one expect to result from natural selection?
D. More small-beaked birds dying than larger-beaked birds. The offspring
produced in subsequent generations have a higher percentage of birds with
large beaks
Which of the following statements is an inference of natural selection?
A. Subsequent generations of a population should have greater proportions of individuals that possess traits better suited for success in unchanging
environments
Which of the following must exist in a population before natural selection can act upon that population?
A. Genetic variation among individuals.
Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same bones, these bones having developed from very similar embryonic tissues. How do biologists interpret these similarities?
A. By identifying the bones as being homologous
C. By proposing that humans, bats, and dolphins share a common ancestor
D. A and C only.
In a hypothetical environment, fishes called pike-cichlids are visual predators of algae-eating fish (i.e., they locate their prey by sight). If a population of algae-eaters experience predation pressure from pike-cichlids, which of the following should least likely be observed in the algae-eater population over the course of many generations?
C. Selection for larger female algae-eaters, bearing broods composed of more,
and larger, young
DDT was once considered a ʺsilver bulletʺ that would permanently eradicate insect pests. Today, DDT is largely useless against many insects. Which of these would have been required for this pest eradication effort to be successful in the long run?
D. None of the individual insects should have possessed genomes that made
them resistant to DDT.
Over evolutionary time, many cave-dwelling organisms have lost their eyes.
Tapeworms have lost their digestive systems. Whales have lost their hind limbs. How can natural selection account for these losses?
C. Under particular circumstances that persisted for long periods, each of these
structures presented greater costs than benefits.
The theory of evolution is most accurately described as
D. an overarching explanation, supported by much evidence, for how
populations change over time.
Logically, which of these should cast the most doubt on the relationships depicted by an evolutionary tree?
E. Relationships between DNA sequences among the species did not match
relationships between skeletal patterns.
Which of the following pieces of evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth?
B. All organisms use essentially the same genetic code
Ichthyosaurs were aquatic dinosaurs. Fossils show us that they had dorsal fins and tails, as do fish, even though their closest relatives were terrestrial reptiles that had neither dorsal fins nor aquatic tails. Dorsal fins and tails of ichthyosaurs and fish are
B. examples of convergent evolution.
C. adaptations to a common environment.
E. B and C only
It has been observed that organisms on islands are different from, but closely related to, similar forms found on the nearest continent. This is taken as evidence that
A. island forms and mainland forms descended from common ancestors.
