MOD 2 Introduction to Evolution Flashcards
Mutation
A random change in the DNA code that might change the resulting protein
E.g growing a third arm
Gene Flow
When organisms leave or arrive
(emigrated + immigrated)
E.g when birds migrate
Genetic Drift
Random events
E.g getting hit by lightning
Natural Selection
A natural force which makes it easier for some organisms and harder for others to survive
E.g owls eat the red mice because they can be seen more easily
Selective mating / Sexual selection
Choosing who to mate with by characteristics
E.g choosing the bird who is most colourful
Artificial selection
When people decide which individuals survive and reproduce
E.g hunters killing deer
Adaptive Trait
When the trait suits the environment and helps the organism (with the trait) to survive selective pressure
E.g bunnies with longer legs (adaptive trait) can push off and gain more speed when running, which means they can escape the foxes (selective pressure)
Selective Pressure
The effect of selection on the relative frequency of one or more genes within a population
E.g foxes are the selective pressure on the bunnies as they can affect the bunny population
Reproductive Success
How many offspring an organism leaves
E.g the bunny who has 5 offspring has more reproductive success than a bunny who has 3
Evolution
The change in the genes of a population over time
E.g humans have evolved to be taller over generations
Gene
A code in the DNA that determines how a protein is built
E.g the trait of having blue eyes
Evolutionary Fitness
The ability to reproduce and pass on genotypes to offspring
E.g increase in offspring = increase in evolutionary fitness
**NOTE: Fitness can also mean how well adapted to the environment an individual is
Population
A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time
E.g humans / apple trees
Reproduction
The production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process
Structure-function relationships
A genetic characteristic which controls an aspect of the individuals structure
E.g dogs having longer jaws and more teeth
Genetics of behaviour
A genetic which changes or controls an aspect of the individual’s behaviour
E.g birds have a flight behaviour which is innate
Structure-function relationships
A genetic characteristic which controls an aspect of the individual’s structure
E.g dogs having longer jaws and more teeth
FINISH THE SENTENCE:
Natural selection is guaranteed to ______ _______
Produce adaption
WHAT ARE THE FULL WORDS FOR THE EQUATION:
NS=H+V+SP+DSR
Natural selection = ????
Why doesn’t natural selection produce perfect organisms?
(6 points)
- Sex problem - has split genes with other’s inferior genes
- Environment always changes
- Mutations
- “Arms Race” - always upping the trait ‘perfection’
- Endless possibility of traits causes ambiguity as to what is the ‘perfect’ organism
- Some adoptions turn out to be less useful later
Asexual reproduction
A singular organism creates the offspring, which means it is a clone of the parent organism
E.g yeast
Sexual reproduction
When two organisms contribute to creating a hybrid of both parents
E.g penguins
Phenotype
The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment
E.g brown eyes
Allele
The code for one of several variations of the protein coded for by a gene (a single base or a segment of bases)
E.g brown eyes are the dominant version of the gene (allele) and blue eyes are the recessive version
FINISH THE SENTENCE:
Natural selection gives adaptive traits ways to ______
Flourish
True or False:
Evolutionary is on the individual level
True
Evolutionary fitness is determined by how many offspring an INDIVIDUAL has
What are Mechanisms of evolution?
Ways in which a population, organism or trait changes
(6 mechanisms)
DNA
A self-replicating material that is the main constituent of chromosomes
Carries genetic information
Protein
A biological structure that determines how a cell is built and how it functions
Fitness
The relative ability of an individual to reproduce successfully by how ADAPTED they are to the environment
