quiz 8 Flashcards
What is evolution?
Change over time, specifically a change in the number of times specific genes that code for specific characteristics occur within an interbreeding population.
Do individuals or populations evolve?
Populations evolve, not individuals.
Is there an implied improvement in evolution?
No, there is no implied ‘improvement’ in evolution.
Do organisms change because they want or need to?
No, they change due to random change.
Who was Lamarck?
A scientist who believed that features could be gained or lost through use or disuse, and these traits could be passed to offspring (1801).
What is the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics?
The concept proposed by Lamarck that traits gained or lost could be passed to offspring.
Who is credited with studying and explaining evolution?
Charles Darwin.
What concept did Darwin develop in 1844?
The driving force for evolution, known as Natural Selection.
What is Natural Selection?
The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
What are Darwin’s first two observations?
1) Organisms produce more offspring than can survive to adulthood. 2) There is variability among species, and this variability is passed from one generation to the next.
What is Darwin’s inference from his observations?
Individuals who inherit characteristics most fit for their environments are likely to produce more offspring than less fit individuals.
What is fitness in the context of evolution?
The ability to survive and produce offspring who can also survive and reproduce.
What is required for evolution by natural selection?
Genetic variation, one or more phenotypes are more suited to environment, these produce more offspring
How is genetic variation added to genotypes?
Genetic variation is added to genotypes by mutations.
What are mutations?
Mutations are any changes in DNA.
