lecture 7

Question 1

Be able to explain punctuated equilibrium, and how it is consistent with
allopatric speciation through peripheral isolates

Answer 1

Punctuated equilibrium- evolution occurs in short bursts of rapid change, with long periods of stability, and this pattern aligns with allopatric speciation through peripheral isolates, where small, isolated populations at the periphery of a species’ range undergo rapid divergence, contributing to the punctuated nature of evolutionary change.

Question 2

what is macroevolution?

Answer 2

the evolution of major new adaptations and new groups of organisms

Question 3

what is meant by evolutionary constraint?

Answer 3

Evolutionary constraint means that there are certain limits or restrictions on the changes that can happen in living things, often because of factors like how their bodies develop or how their genes work.

Question 4

Know the predictions that should be true if common descent is real:
a. Transitional forms connecting species to common ancestors that
appear in the fossil record in the right order.
b. Anatomical evidence of past lifestyles.
c. Strange similarities between living things with different lifestyles

Question 5

..And some of the evidence that meets these predictions:
a. Patterns of clustering similarity in the diversity of life
b. HOX genes and homologous structures
c. Vestigial traits
d. Embryology
e. Transitional fossils (know the examples we discussed in class)

Question 6

How might the mutations controlling macroevolution and microevolution
differ? Know a little about the role of HOX genes and other regulatory genes
in determining the basic body plans of animals, and how changes can cause
major changes within groups of animals

Question 7

Know what heterochrony is. Know the two types of heterochrony, and what
sort of changes they tend to produce.

Answer 7

heterochrony is the evolutionary changes in the timing of development. The two main types are paedomorphosis, where adult traits resemble juvenile traits, and peramorphosis, where development extends to produce exaggerated adult traits, leading to diverse morphological outcomes in species over time.

Question 8

What is an adaptive radiation, and why do they occur?

Answer 8

Adaptive radiation is when a group of related species quickly evolves into different forms to take advantage of new environments or opportunities.