Natural Selection

Question 1

Natural Selection

Answer 1

A process in which forms that are better suited to their environment increase in frequency in a population

Question 2

Adaptation

Answer 2

Trait shaped by natural selection to serve a function(s) that makes it beneficial today
-can address abiotic and/or biotic environmental conditions

Question 3

Exaptation

Answer 3

Trait that currently serves 1 function today, but which evolved from a trait that served a different function in the past

Question 4

Evolutionary Trade-Off

Answer 4

Need to give up one trait in order to gain a more necessary trait (such as more offspring but small in size VERSUS less offspring but bigger in size)

Question 5

What’s a reaction norm?

Answer 5

Combines genotype and environmental conditions/factors with phenotypic expression

Question 6

What are the requirements for natural selection to act on a population?

Answer 6

1. Variation
2. Inheritance
3. Differential reproductive success

Question 7

How do complex traits evolve? (Eyes in molluscs)

Answer 7

The complex trait of a well-developed eye in molluscs was developed since octopus are predators so they need to see in order to see prey and hunt (need the ability)

Question 8

Explain why there is not a perfect organism (Owls vs Ostrich)

Answer 8

There is always going to be a trade-off (Predator;Owls; need good eye vision to hunt at night which causes them to have greater binocular vision but less monocular; Prey; Ostrich; need good eyesight from the sides to see predators meaning less binocular vision but better monocular vision)

Question 9

How can evolution be observed in a lab?

Answer 9

Evolution can be better observed in a lab since the researchers can see thousands of generations a lot quicker and easier then can compare to the first initial generation.