Lab 1: Biological Evolution, Natural Selection, Tree Thinking

Question 1

Is biological evolution a change that results in a adaption?

Answer 1

No

Question 2

Describe evolution by the process of natural selection.

Answer 2

In a particular environment, individuals with a more advantageous heritable trait have more offspring and as a result that trait becomes more common in each generation.

Question 3

Is mutation a random or non-random process?

Answer 3

Random

Question 4

What is a clade?

Answer 4

A group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all the desendents of that ancestor

Question 5

What are the parameters associated with change?

Answer 5

Change in population, change in heritable trait, change in population occurs over generations

Question 6

What is an adaption?

Answer 6

Adaption is a heritable trait favored by Natural Selection because it provides some function that helps an animal survive and reproduce in its environment

Question 7

What is differential reproduction?

Answer 7

Means that the reproductive success is not equal in the population. Under selective pressure, individuals with a particular heritable variation are more successful at surviving and reproducing

Question 8

What does the acronym VISTA stand for?

Answer 8

V=variation
I=Inheritance
S=selection
T=time
A=adaption

Question 9

Natural selection is a driving force in what?

Answer 9

Evolution

Question 10

Natural selection is limited by a populations…

Answer 10

existing genetic variance and whatever new genes arise through mutation

Question 11

What is a phylogeny?

Answer 11

The evolutionary history and relationships between groups of animals

Question 12

What is a pruned phylogenetic tree?

Answer 12

A phylogenetic tree that has had some of its branches or nodes removed