Natural Selection - Overall Study

Question 1

Define selective agent

Answer 1

The environmental factor that acts upon a population

Question 2

Define selection pressure

Answer 2

The effect of a selective agent

Question 3

Give examples of a selective agent

Answer 3

Biotic factor: Bacterial infection, competitor, predator

Abiotic factor: temperature, water, soil nutrients, fire

Question 4

What are the three steps of speciation?

Answer 4

1. Variation
2. Isolation
3. Selection

Question 5

Define variation in terms of natural selection

Answer 5

Within a population there is a difference in DNA among individuals

Question 6

What was the main idea behind evolution?

Answer 6

A species can change over many generations, potentially forming new species

Question 7

What is a generation?

Answer 7

The time between the birth of an individual and when the individual produces offspring

Question 8

What does natural selection affect within a population?

Answer 8

It affects what traits are considered desirable and what is passed down through generations

Question 9

Give an example of a selection pressure

Answer 9

Coat colour change of mice because of the owl selection pressure

Question 10

Define analogous structures

Answer 10

Analogous structures are bone structures that serve the same function but don’t have the same amount of bones or structure

Question 11

Define homologous structures.

Answer 11

Homologous structures are bone structures that have the same amount of bones and same arrangement, but don’t serve the same function

Question 12

How does the fossil record prove evolution is true?

Answer 12

The fossil record shows the changes in species and transitional forms over time which proves evolution to be true.

Question 13

Provide examples of animals that are often artificially selected.

Answer 13

Dogs, cats, budgerigars (budgies)

Question 14

What features do primates have?

Answer 14

Most have grasping hands, nails rather than claws and forward-facing eyes

Question 15

What causes variation?

Answer 15

Differences within genes

Question 16

TRUE or FALSE

Sexual selection is considered an example of natural selection

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Define cytochrome c

Answer 17

A protein found in all living things

Question 18

Define comparative anatomy

Answer 18

Comparative anatomy is the study of comparing physical structures of a species to another

Question 19

What did Charles Darwin theorise during his observation of the Galapagos finches?

Answer 19

The finches changed to suit their environment. The beaks changed to suit their food source

Question 20

Define natural selection

Answer 20

The way a species changes characteristics depending on what their natural environment demands

Question 21

Define artificial selection

Answer 21

The process of humans choosing to breed particular organisms with desirable features.

Also called selective breeding

Question 22

How was it indicated that other species of human-like animals existed?

Answer 22

Fossils

Question 23

What is a species?

Answer 23

The smallest unit of biological classification. Able to interbreed without complications & produce fertile offspring.

Question 24

What is sexual selection?

Answer 24

What is considered more sexually attractive within a species and therefore more likely to reproduce.

Question 25

Which animals are most like humans?

Answer 25

Gorillas & Chimpanzees

Question 26

What is a selective breeding method?

Answer 26

Cross-breeding | Inbreeding

Question 27

Charles Darwin predicted the best place to find fossils of human origins. Where?

Answer 27

Africa

Question 28

What is variation?

Answer 28

Natural differences within a population

Question 29

In what order did homo species exist?

Answer 29

1. Australopithecus 2. Homo Habilis 3. Homo Ergaster / Erectus 4. Homo Heidelbergensis 5. Homo Neanderthalis & Homo Sapiens

Question 30

What is hybridisation?

Answer 30

When two very similar species produce offspring called hybrids

Question 31

What health problems do hybrids often have?

Answer 31

They are normally infertile and come with a wide range of health issues

Question 32

Give an example of a hybrid

Answer 32

Liger Mule Hinny

Question 33

How long have Homo Sapiens been around?

Answer 33

About 200,000 years

Question 34

Give an example of a homologous structure

Answer 34

The limbs of vertebrates | Cat, human, bat, bird, horse, whale

Question 35

Give an example of an analogous structure

Answer 35

Wings: bird, butterfly, bat Swimming: Shark, penguin, dolphin

Question 36

What is the biological classification system that we still use today called?

Answer 36

Linnaean classification system

Question 37

Define ecological niche

Answer 37

The role a species has in its environment eg: food, behaviours, reproduction

Question 38

How does cytochrome c prove evolution?

Answer 38

By comparing how many amino acids are in the same position on the cytochrome c protein chain it proves how closely related two species are.

Question 39

What is the science of classifying animals called?

Answer 39

Taxonomy

Question 40

Define competition in terms of natural selection

Answer 40

There are more offspring per generation than can survive, individuals will have to out compete each other

Question 41

Define inheritance in terms of natural selection

Answer 41

A trait can be passed down on through DNA, therefore, offspring will inherit the traits of their parents

Question 42

What are the four main principles of natural selection?

Answer 42

- Variation - Competition - Survival of the fittest - Inheritance

Question 43

What is cross-breeding?

Answer 43

Crossing two individuals with desirable features in the hopes the offspring will show a combination of the features.

Question 44

What is inbreeding?

Answer 44

Related individuals mate

Question 45

What are the issues with inbreeding?

Answer 45

Often causes health issues, deformities, sterility and genetic disease

Question 46

Define genotype

Answer 46

The genetic make up of an individual

Question 47

Define phenotype

Answer 47

The particular characteristics of an individual

Question 48

What is the modern definition of natural selection?

Answer 48

The change of a particular genetic make up due to environmental selection over many generations

Question 49

Define cladistics

Answer 49

The field that classifies life based on DNA sequencing

Question 50

Define convergent evolution

Answer 50

When two species develop a similar trait to serve a specific function without breeding.

Question 51

Define divergent evolution

Answer 51

Two populations of the same species are isolated from each other and evolve different traits until they are no longer the same species

Question 52

What is a key feature that animals have to have to be classified into the sub-tribe with human?

Answer 52

Walking upright on two legs

Question 53

What is speciation?

Answer 53

The process by which one species splits into two or more separate species.

Question 54

What are the three eras of the geological time scale?

Answer 54

Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic

Question 55

What class are humans classified into?

Answer 55

Mammalia

Question 56

Define survival of the fittest in terms of natural selection

Answer 56

Individuals with traits that are better adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce, whereas individuals without those traits will die

Question 57

What are the categories of Linnaean Classification?

Answer 57

(In order) Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 58

What family are humans classified into?

Answer 58

Homonidae

Question 59

What is the 'Out of Africa' model?

Answer 59

A model that proposes the idea that all humans originated from Africa

Question 60

When is it estimated that humans left Africa?

Answer 60

Around 60,000 years ago

Question 61

What evidence supports the 'Out of Africa' model?

Answer 61

By analysing the DNA of hundreds of thousands of people, scientists were able to trace their ancestry back to a small group in Africa

Question 62

Within the skulls of likely members of the human family, what changes have occurred during evolution?

Answer 62

- Face becomes flatter - Cranium enlarges - Lower jaw shortens - Cranium is more rounded - A chin develops - Cranial capacity increases - Forehead becomes vertical