Principals Of Evoultion Flashcards
What is the definition of a species?
A group of organisms whose members breed with one another and produce fertile young
This definition emphasizes reproductive isolation as a key factor in defining species.
How is evolution defined?
Species evolve through natural selection and adaptation to their ever-changing environment
Evolution encompasses both the change in species over time and the mechanisms that drive these changes.
What is adaptation in the context of evolution?
An inherited characteristic that improves an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment
Adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or physiological.
Is evolution considered a fact, a theory, or both?
Both fact and theory
It is a fact that organisms have changed during the history of life on Earth, while evolutionary theory explains the mechanisms behind these changes.
What is an example of evolution as a fact?
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria
This phenomenon demonstrates how organisms can evolve rapidly in response to environmental pressures.
Who is often referred to as the ‘father of evolution’?
Charles Darwin
Darwin’s work laid the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.
What were the two main ideas about the natural world before Darwin’s time?
- Species were fixed and did not change over time
- Earth was less than 10,000 years old and relatively unchanging
These ideas were challenged by various scientific discoveries leading up to Darwin’s theory.
Who was James Hutton and what was his contribution?
A Scottish geologist who challenged the idea that Earth was young by studying rock formations and erosion
Hutton concluded that Earth’s processes take millions of years.
What is the theory of catastrophism proposed by Georges Cuvier?
Catastrophic events lead to the extinction of some species
Cuvier’s work suggested that the fossil record showed evidence of past extinctions.
What did Louis Agassiz propose regarding catastrophes?
At least two separate catastrophes and creations
Agassiz’s ideas contributed to the understanding of Earth’s geological history.
What was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s significant contribution to evolutionary thought?
He recognized that species are not permanent and proposed that species evolve or change over time
Lamarck’s ideas were foundational, although later modified by Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
What are Lamarck’s three guiding ideas?
1) Using or not using certain body parts causes an organism to develop certain characteristics
2) Enhanced characteristics would be passed on to offspring
3) All organisms have a tendency towards perfection
Lamarck’s ideas were later proven to be false.
What significant event occurred in 1831 involving Charles Darwin?
The HMS Beagle set sail on a five-year voyage around the world
Darwin served as the ship’s naturalist.
What did Darwin collect during his voyage on the HMS Beagle?
Thousands of specimens of plants and animals
Collections included examples from the Brazilian jungle to the grasslands of Argentina to the Antarctic.
What was the main theory that Darwin developed during his voyage?
Theory of evolution through natural selection and adaptation
Influenced by ideas from Thomas Malthus.
What are the three main patterns of species variation that Darwin observed?
1) Species Vary Globally
2) Species Vary Locally
3) Species Vary Over Time
These observations helped shape his understanding of evolution.
What does ‘Species Vary Globally’ mean?
Distantly related species living in similar habitats in different parts of the world look similar and act similarly
Examples include rheas in South America, emus in Australia, and ostriches in Africa.
What does ‘Species Vary Locally’ refer to?
Related animal species occupy different habitats within a local environment and have different features
This was notably observed in the Galapagos Islands.
What does ‘Species Vary Over Time’ indicate?
Fossil remains may look similar but not identical to any living creature
This observation supports the concept of evolution.
What did Thomas Malthus say about human suffering?
Much of human suffering was due to the human population’s potential to grow
Malthus noted that the production of more individuals than the environment can support leads to a struggle for existence.
True or False: Darwin’s observations from his voyage were limited to the Galapagos Islands.
False
Darwin made observations in various locations around the world.
Fill in the blank: Darwin recognized that the production of more individuals than the environment can support leads to a _______.
struggle for existence
This concept is a key part of natural selection.
