module 4 (part 2)+(part 3) Flashcards
todays biologiest belive in the central propositions of evolution:
-that all living things are decended from a common acestor
-that all extant species can change and give rise to new species
example: brown bear (carnvore) —-> giant panda (eats bambo)
evidence to support the theory of evolution
- artificail selection
-selective breeding of animals & plants [by humans] over 100-1000s of years
-this method is faster than natural selection - fossil records
-this is strong support of evolution
-fossils show transitional forms [direct evidence of decendents and modification]
-many fossils link early extinct species with living species today
EXAMPLES:
a. pakicetus (sometimes swam) –> ambulocetus (flippered feet) –> rodhocetus (swimming)
b. hind leg dinasour –> transitional form –> modern whale [blowhole used to be notrils]
c. hyracotherium —> horse (molars & hoofs & larger)
d. archaropteryx was similar to birds but had a free rib cage [reptile —> birds] - Biological Design
-same ancestor but have morpholiogical differences
EXAMPLE:
canines –> fox, coyote, wolf, jackal, african dog
- biological designs [evidence to support evolution]
homologus characterics (similar ancestry)
-only homologus are used to infer evolutionary relationships of organisms
analogus characteristics (similar function)
homoplaisious characteristics (appearance)
vestigial characteristics
characteristic that have no apparent use
like appendix and tail bone in humans
pelvic bone in whales which used to be for walking
comparative embryology homologies
the formation of the blastula in all animals
also ATCG sequences
molecular homologies
ATCG sequences
also HOX genes found in all animals was is used for regulation of morphological development in the embryo
HOX genes tell other genes what to do in order to make body parts
mystery: why do penguins live in S. hemisphere but not in Arctic and polar bear in Arctic but not in Antarctic?
BIOGEOGRAPHY
why are fossils of marine organisms (whales) found on land?
answer 1: sea levels have changed over time
answer 2: plate techtonics have moved
answer 3: environmental changes due to 1&2
example: pangea broke up forming two super contenients
microevolution
changes in population
macroevolution
formation of new species
why couldnt pengiuns are bears meet?
cuz they didnt have time to migrate before the contents broke up. Now they are seperated> penguins never made it above the equator
who was alfred russle wallace
father of biogeography
why should adjacent areas with similar climate have different animals on them?
[
E.g. fauna and flora of sumatra & Java are more like those on the mainland, while fauna and flora of Papa New Guinea is more like Australia]
this was studied by alfred russel wallace
he found: each great region of the world has its own fauna and flora
specifically, no native species were common on other continents, SO, they must have evolved from its own unique fauna and flora
Biogeographically, a mole can look the same as a mole on another contenent but not be related at all. Why is this?
convergent evolution
independantly evolved similar characteristics by being in similar climate. But not related at all
what is an example of convergent evolution
two cacti live in differnent continents and are unrealted. But have similar adaptations. this is due to the environment