Lecture 13-14 Evolutionary Biology and Darwin's Big Idea

Question 1

What is the Theory of Evolution?

Answer 1

1. all living things change gradually
2. Adaptations arise from natural selection

Question 2

Fill in the blank. ______ and ______ are products of evolution

Answer 2

biodiversity and adaptation

Question 3

What are the most important conclusions about evolution?

Answer 3

all living things change gradually
adaptation arises from natural selection
lineage splits from speciation arise from biodiversity
we all share common ancestors

Question 4

Biodiversity

Answer 4

number and kinds of species/living things in an area

Question 5

Adaptation

Answer 5

a characteristic/trait that contributes to the fitness of an organism

Question 6

Evolutionary history

Answer 6

macroevolution
we look at long term patterns of species
we are also concerned about common ancestors
we look at comparative data

Question 7

Evolutionary mechanism

Answer 7

microevolution
look at processes like natural selection
we use experimental and comparative data of genetics and ecology
this is done at the population level

Question 8

Sources of Evidence

Answer 8

Theoretical
Observable
Experimental
Comparative

Question 9

Scientific theories

Answer 9

supported by empirical observation
supported by experimental and comparative data
must be testifiable and falsifiable

Question 10

What are the most important elements of Darwin’s theory

Answer 10

1. evolution occurs at the population level
2. adaptations take time and don’t just happen on the spot
3. survival of the fittest
4. most fit depends on the environment

Question 11

what are the implications of Darwin’s theory?

Answer 11

we live in a changing world
adaptations take time and years to accumulate, so when they do appear they look like random occurances

Question 12

Paley’s argument from design

Answer 12

Using a clock, Daley states that because something has so many intricate designs that all serve a general purpose, it must have a creator

Question 13

Who was the first person to coin evolution

Answer 13

Jean-Baptiste Lemarke

Question 14

Causal mechanisms that Lemark provided

Answer 14

the inheritance of acquired characters

Question 15

Who proposed the first mechanism of evolution

Answer 15

Wallace and Darwin

Question 16

What are the 2 basic ideas of the origin of species

Answer 16

1. all organisms arise from common ancestors
2. Adaptations arise from natural selection that happen on variation

Question 17

Gradualism
How did it influence Darwin’s thinking?

Answer 17

Gradualism is the process of small changes over time that lead to bigger occurrences.
Darwin took this and applied it to his thinking of the world as a dynamic place

Question 18

Evidence that species vary in evolution

Answer 18

Galapogooes mockingbirds

Question 19

Darwin’s mechanisms on natural selection

Answer 19

Selection
Variability
Heredity

Question 20

Why was Lemarke wrong?

Answer 20

1. Soma is not passed down, only gametes
2. Dna is turned into protein, non reversible