Lecture 1

Question 1

What is Evolution?

Answer 1

Evolution is descent with modification

Question 2

When does evolution by natural selection occur?

Answer 2

Evolution by natural selection occurs when (1) heritable variation leads to (2) differential success in survival and reproduction

Question 3

Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)

Answer 3

• Evolution is progressive
• Species are not static, but have changed through time
• Inheritance of acquired characteristics

Question 4

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Answer 4

• Voyage on HMS Beagle
• Similar species varied from place to place
• Resemblance between island and mainland species
• Wrote about his observations

Question 5

Alfred Russell Wallace

Answer 5

• Documented new species along with gradations among species

- Identified broad biogeographic boundaries in Malay, Archipelago

Question 6

Darwin’s 4 conditions for natural selection (abbreviated)

Answer 6

(1) Variation Exists
(2) It is heritable
(3) Differential survival and reproduction
(4) Differential survivorship and reproduction of individuals due to differences in heritable variation leads to natural selection

Question 7

Typological Thinking

Answer 7

Typological thinking is based on the idea that species are unchanging types and that variation is unimportant or misleading
ex) genesis, plato, aristotle

Question 8

Population Thinking

Answer 8

Variation among individuals was key to understanding the nature of species