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ANTHR 1300: Human Evolution > Prelim 1 > Flashcards

Prelim 1 Flashcards

Evolution and Human Variation - lectures 1-9

1
Q

Evolution

A

Change in a gene’s relative frequency in a population over time

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2
Q

Species

A

A population of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring

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3
Q

Microevolution

A

Small changes within a species over time

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4
Q

Macroevolution

A

Major changes in a species’ form or behavior which categorize it as a new species

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5
Q

Natural selection

A

A mechanism through which small changes in a population accumulate into huge ones; increased frequency of traits that help individuals survive and reproduce

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6
Q

How does natural selection work?

A
  1. Limited resources -> competition to survive and reproduce
  2. Individuals in populations vary
  3. Inheritable traits that give an advantage will increase in relative frequency
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7
Q

Allopatric Speciation Model

A

Populations speciate after growing geographically isolated and being affected differently by natural selection

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8
Q

Character displacement

A

Populations sharing a geographic area adapt to different niches so they no longer compete

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9
Q

Types of reproductive barrier between species

A

Post-mating (offspring infertile or unhealthy) & pre-mating (form, lifestyle, mating activity too different to interbreed)

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10
Q

Biological Species Model

A

Species = population of individuals that interbreed and produce fertile offspring

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11
Q

Ring Species

A

Groups of neighboring pops. in which adjacent species can interbreed, but those at either “end” can’t

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12
Q

Hybrids

A

2 populations look and act totally different but can bear fertile offspring with unique “hybrid” traits

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13
Q

Evolutionary Species Concept

A

Use morphology to determine who is descended from whom

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14
Q

Phylogenetic Model

A

Examine groups to find a shared evolutionary history

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15
Q

What are the challenges to the Biological Species Model?

A
  1. Ring species
  2. Hybrids
  3. Paleobiology
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16
Q

How does speciation happen?

A
  1. A group within a population separates from the rest, usually geographically
  2. Natural selection decreases the prevalence of some traits and increases others
  3. Species can no longer interbreed with the original/divergent pops.
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17
Q

Nucleic Acids

A

Chains of nucleotide bases - DNA, RNA

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18
Q

Proteins

A

Chains of amino acids which perform varied functions

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19
Q

Which organisms have DNA?

A
  1. Viruses
  2. Prokaryotes
  3. Eukaryotes
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20
Q

DNA

A

Double-stranded macromolecule made of nucleotides which carries genetic information

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21
Q

Nucleotides

A

Organic molecules made up of a nucleotide base (A, T, C, G) and sugar

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22
Q

Gene

A

Section of DNA with instructions to make a protein

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23
Q

Chromosome

A

Large package of DNA stored in cell nuclei

24
Q

Locus

A

Location of a gene on a chromosome which remains constant for whole species

25
Karyotype
Map of all your chromosomes
26
How is DNA turned into a protein?
1. Transcription: one DNA strand is copied onto messenger RNA (mRNA) 2. Translation: RNA is turned into amino acids (three nucleotides make up one AA) 3. End result: chain of amino acids form a protein
27
What are the sources of variation in sexual reproduction?
1. Crossing-over: every round of meiosis, a little bit of each chromosome may switch over 2. Independent assortment: different pairs of alleles separate independently from each other
28
Alleles
Different versions of a gene that may vary at loci
29
Homozygous
Identical alleles for a trait
30
Heterozygous
Different alleles for a trait
31
Dominant allele
Will always create its protein
32
Recessive allele
Will be blocked from creating its protein by dominant allele (only produces if homozygous)
33
Codominant alleles
Two alleles that always produce their protein
34
Phenotype
Observable traits, e.g. eye color or blood type
35
Why isn't all variation eliminated through generations?
Explanation: Traits are particulate - may "disappear" but reoccur in future generations, & combine but do not blend or change through genetics Proof: plant experiments
36
Gene pool
Abstraction of all genes present in a population
37
Population
Group defined for a situation (usually a breeding population)
38
4 causes of evolution
1. Mutation 2. Migration/gene flow 3. Genetic drift 4. Natural selection
39
Mutation
Change in a gene's actual chemical structure
40
Types of mutation
1. Chromosomal aberrations -changes in structure/number of chromosomes which are very destructive and affect many genes 2. Point mutations - changes in a single nucleotide in a DNA change * May result in FRAME SHIFT - changes all proteins
41
Gene flow (migration)
Movement of individuals
42
Genetic drift (def & causes)
Chance changes in gene frequency, esp. in smaller populations, due to: 1. Random removal of alleles in meiosis 2. Founder Effect - small subset forms new group with higher frequency of certain genes 3. Inbreeding - reduces randomness, increases chance of rare recessive diseases
43
Fitness
Reproductive success - how many genes an organism passes on, or how many (grand)offspring it has relative to others
44
Subspecies
A genetically distinct population of a species which may or may not be speciating
45
What are the assumptions behind race-IQ claims?
1. Human "races" = subspeciees 2. Each human has general intelligence measurable by a # 3. That number can be objectively measured with a test
46
Discordant variation
Variation that doesn't match up - e.g. features used to determine "race" don't map onto each other consistently
47
Heritability
Proportion of total phenotypic variation caused by genetic variation (WITHIN a group) vs environmental variation
48
H = ?
H = VG / (VG + VE)
49
Clines
Relatively regular change in a biological trait (aka allele frequency) over geography
50
How can we know if a trait is or was adaptive?
If clinal variation in the trait correlates strongly with variation in an environmental stressor
51
Why is dark skin advantageous near the equator?
Melanin protects against UV rays: 1. Decreased risk of skin cancer from high UV exposure 2. Overdose of vitamin D -> kidney failure
52
Why is pale skin advantageous near the poles?
Less melanin means absorbing more UV rays 1. Vitamin D needed for healthy bones and childbirth
53
Heterozygote Advantage
Individuals benefit from heterozygote alleles when multiple selective forces act E.g.: malaria is less successful on sickle cells, but sickle cells are unhealthy -> benefit to having one healthy allele and one sickle allele
54
Adaptation
Degree to which an individual can utilize its environment as a result of natural selection on its ancestors
55
Acclimatization
How an individual responds to environmental changes within its lifetime
56
Developmental Acclimatization
Physiological changes from being born + growing up in certain extreme conditions

ANTHR 1300: Human Evolution (3 decks)

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