L3: Adaptations Flashcards
what are hox genes?
genes for development
identify a factor that can impact how development progresses
mutations
what is a genotype?
set of genes in DNA responsible for a particular trait
what is a phenotype?
physical expression of a trait
define an adaptation
a genetic mutation that increases the survival/reproductive rate of an organism
what is ontogeny?
development of traits in individuals from DNA to current form
compare the synchronic & diachronic view
synchronic - explanation of current form in terms of historic sequence
diachronic - explanation of current form of species
compare the ultimate & proximate view
proximate - how an individual organism’s structure function
ultimate - why a species evolved the structures it has
what is mechanism?
causation / explains how the structures work
what is adaptive value?
function / species trait that solves a reproductive or survival problem in current environment
what is phylogeny?
evolution / history of evolution in a species over many generations
what is the purpose of sexual ornament/armament adaptions?
increases reproductive success & helps pass on genes
describe the theory of sensory bias
theory that ornaments exploit pre-existing biases of individuals
what is genotyping?
examining DNA sequences and uncovering genes involved in a trait
mutations alter DNA, resulting in a new . . .
amino acids
what may the results of mutations be?
neutral
detrimental
beneficial
what are the evolutionary constraints?
physics (size, gravity & bones)
pleiotropy (one gene influences several traits)
what is antagonistic pleotropy?
one gene is beneficial for one trait, but detrimental for another
what is convergent evolution?
evolution of similar adaptations independently in distantly related species
what is parallelism?
mutations in the same gene that arise independently (form of convergent evolution)
what does macroevolution look at?
evolution of groups rather than individuals (e.g. emergence of tetrapods)
how can origins of adaptations be found?
comparing species, genera, etc. & identifying similarities & differences
what are hox genes?
genes for development.
how do mutations affect development?
change how the development progresses
identify the evolutionary constraints
- physics (size vs oxygen tubes, gravity vs bones)
- pleiotropy (one gene influences several traits
what is convergent evolution?
the evolution of similar adaptations independently in distantly related species
what is antagonistic pleiotropy?
one gene is beneficial for one trait, but detrimental for another
compare parallelism vs normal convergent evolution
parallelism refers to mutations in the SAME gene that arise independently
otherwise occurs in DIFFERENT genes
what is an eco-morph?
a local variation of a species where the phenotype is determined by the ecological niche it fills
