L17 INTRO. TO EVOL. Flashcards

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1
Q

Define evolution.

A

Evolution is the theory that modern organisms descended from ancestral species.

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2
Q

What is natural selection?

A

The mechanism for evolutionary change within a population.

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3
Q

What is meant by evolutionary adaptation?

A

An accumulated inheritance of favourable traits/characteristics that increases survival and reproductive abilities.

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4
Q

How did Aristotle view species and populations?

A

He viewed species as fixed & unchanging, and arranged species on a ladder of increasing complexity called the Scala Naturae, consistent with the Old Testament views of life.

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5
Q

Why was Linnaeus significant? What ideology did he follow?

A

He was the founder of taxonomy. He based his groupings on patterns of creation.

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6
Q

Who was Cuvier? What did he contribute to theory of evolution?

A

Cuvier was a french scientist who studied fossils and found that the older the strata, the more dissimilar the fossils, suggesting catastrophism as an evolutionary mechanism.

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7
Q

What is catastrophism?

A

The theory that sudden & violent occurences in early life caused evolutionary change/destroyed certain species.

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8
Q

Why was Malthus significant?

A

Malthus wrote his book Essay on Population, and noted that only a fraction of any population will survive due to populations gwoing exponentially faster than the food resources available.
He argued famine, war and disease will limit growth.

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9
Q

Who was Lamarck?

A

Lamarck proposed the theory of evolution through 2 main principles: use&disuse of morphological structures, and acquired traits. He wrongly theorized organisms could eventually reach perfection through these two mechanisms.

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10
Q

What is artifical selection?

A

The breeding of organisms to create new species through human selection of organisms with desired traits.

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11
Q

Who were Hutton & Lyell?

A

They were geologists that suggested slow and continuous processes led to profound change. They theorized that the earth must be much older than the 6000 years stated in Old Testament.

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12
Q

What was the basis for Darwins theory of evolution?

A

His 5 yr. voyage to South America & South Pacific.

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13
Q

What did Darwin observe on his voyage? What did he hypothesize?

A

Observed various adaptations of plants and animals based on their location. He then hyothesized that the species diversified due to environmentl differences (migrating to different islands).

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14
Q

Who is Alfred Wallace?

A

Wallace was another scientist who also theorized evolution via natural selection shortly after Darwin.

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15
Q

What are the four mechanisms for natural selection?

A
  1. Overproduction of offspring
  2. Limited resources and subsequent competition
  3. Heritable variations
  4. Differential reproductive success.
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16
Q

What is differential reproductive success?

A

Individuals with beneficial adaptations are more likely to survive to pass on their genes.

17
Q

What is Darwinian Fitness?

A

The idea that an organisms reproductive success makes them fit, and the more offpring they can produce the fitter they are.

18
Q

What are the two linked processes of evolution?

A
  1. Random generation variability
  2. Selection of “suitable” characteristics
19
Q

What are the six scientific pieces of evidence suporting the theory of evolution via natural selection?

A
  1. Direct observation of evolutionary change
  2. Homology at the anatomical, developmental and molecular levels.
  3. Convergent evolution
  4. Fossil record evidence
  5. Biogeography
  6. Bad design
20
Q

What is a vestigial structure?

A

Vestigial structures are seemingly
useless organs or are structures that
no longer performs the function for
which it evolved for.

Vestigial pelvic bone in whales.
21
Q

What is molecular homology?

A

Similarities at the molecular/DNA sequencing level. Nearly all organisms follow a similar genetic code.

The genetic code & codon table.
22
Q

What is convergent evolution?

A

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or environments.

23
Q

Convergent evolution creates XXXX structures.

A

Analogous.

24
Q

What are the four reasons for natural selection being unable to shape perfect organisms?

A
  1. Modifications possible on existing genes only.
  2. Historical constraints
  3. Adaptations are often compromises
  4. Chance, natural selection and the environment all play a role.
25
Q

Fill in the blanks.

A

Analogous structures share similar function BUT NOT common ancestry.

26
Q

Fill in the blanks.

A

Homologous structures share common ancestry BUT NOT common functions.