Life on Earth and Evolution Flashcards
Define Evolutionary Mismatch
Refers to evolved traits that were once advantageous that became maladaptive due to rapid changes in the environment
State the Big Bang theory
The universe was in one place, all of it’s matter and energy was squashed in one infinitely small spot and then exploded
Nebular Hypothesis
New born stars are birthed from gravitational attraction causes the mass gas and dust to slowly contract and rotate
What was the Miller-Urey Experiment
- First flask filled with water and heated to mimic the sea
- Water vapor moved to the second flask where methane and ammonia vapor were added
- Electric sparks
- Rain collected and analyzed – showed that many amino acids could be formed under the early conditions of life
What type of molecules are needed for life
Organic carbon based molecules
What did the Miller Urey experiment show
Many amino acids could be formed under the earlier conditions of the earth
Define the central Dogma of biology
Information flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
Define the Central Dogma of biology in terms of translation and transcription
Transcribe DNA into RNA
Translate RNA into proteins
Define common descent
A concept in evolutionary biology applicable when one species is the ancestor of two or more species later in time. Its broadest application is that all of life had one common ancestor cell.
Define Natural Selection
Differential survival and reproduction in a population
Explain how Natural Selection Works
Variation and Heritability - Offspring have varying traits, some of which are inheritable and some of which are harmful, some are good
Differential reproductive success - Organisms with beneficial traits have a better chance of surviving and passing on their characteristics
Define Microevolution
The change in frequency of particular genes across relatively few generations
Fast evolution from genetic variation that circulates through a population
Define Macroevolution
Slow evolution that usually requires major genetic and ecological changes
