Lecture 1: Intro

Question 2

What is evolution?

Answer 2

• Descent with modification
  -change in allele frequency in a population over time(across generations)
• evolution is a process, natural selection is mechanism of evolution the predominant

Question 3

Allele frequency

Answer 3

• A gene is a molecular unit of heredity
• an allele is one form of a gene(dominant or recessive)
• A gene with 4 alleles: A, b, c, d has allele frequency for allele A: #A / (#a+ #b + #c + #d)

Question 4

Darwin’s big idea

Answer 4

-evolution by natural selection
- process whereby some organisms in a species have certain inherited variations that give them an advantage over others
-3 key components: variation, variation is inherited, differential survival and reproduction

Question 5

Can an individual evolve?

Answer 5

No, populations evolve across generations

Question 6

Are some animals more evolved than others?

Answer 6

No, all animals have been evolving for the same amount of time

Question 7

What is the goal for natural selection?

Answer 7

There is no goal, some animals do better than others. That’s that.

Question 8

Why does variation exist in a population?

Answer 8

Because of mutations (also development). Selection acts on that variation. Selection cannot cause mutations as create variation

Question 9

Tinberg’s 4 levels of analysis

Answer 9

• Mechanism
• selective advantage (function)
• ontogeny (development)
• phylogeny ( evolutionary history)
• proximate (immediate): mechanism, development
• ultimate( overall ): function, phylogeny

-Proximate(how the behavior works)
- ultimate(why a behavior exists)

Question 10

4 questions of analysis

Answer 10

Ask yourself what you are studying:
- how does a behavior work?
Mechanism (triggers for behavior), development( degree to which behavior can be changed through learning)
- why does this behavior exist?
Selective advantage(function in regards to survival and reproduction), phylogeny ( evolutionary explanations that describe history of this behavior. Which ancestor had this behavior? What was the antecedent to this behavior?)

Ask yourself when you are studying this:
- snap shot ( behavior in terms of present day): mechanism, selective advantage
-historical sequence(current behavior in terms of a sequence of behaviors that resulted in this present day form): development, phylogeny

Question 11

Manakin moonwalk

Answer 11

Mechanism: spike in testosterone, female comes into sight
Ontogeny: learned over time
Selective advantage: attract mates
Phylogeny: other manakins of common ancestor share this behavior

Question 12

Cause versus consequence

Answer 12

Causes: evolutionary history(mutation and recombination), development(fertilization to maturation- gene expression, hormone organization, early life effects), mechanism( hormonal activation, neuronal plasticity-although could happen in development )

Consequences: neurons fire- behavior occurs - purpose/function is served