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Evolution > Test 1 > Flashcards

Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Homologous genes

A

genes or a gene sequence that are in different species but encode the same product because the sequence is derived from a common ancestor

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2
Q

closely related species

A

species that are so similar in appearance that the difference between them can sometimes be unclear.

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3
Q

pseudogenes

A

inactive genes which are genetic leftovers

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4
Q

homoplasy

A

organisms that look similar but do not share a common ancestor

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5
Q

biological fitness

A

success of reproduction and passing these selected traits to offspring

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6
Q

synapomorphy

A

characteristics shared between different species that have derived from a common ancestor

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7
Q

polymorphism

A

when there is more than one variant for a phenotype or allele in a population

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8
Q

polyploidy

A

having more than two haploid sets of chromosomes

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9
Q

replacement mutation

A

a point mutation that changes a nucleotide and may change the protein to inactive or into something else, seems like a small change but can have great affect

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10
Q

leader sequence

A

a short sequence that will not be translated, it allows the ribosome to attach and translate the strand

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11
Q

somatic mutation

A

mutations that cannot be passed to offspring but can cause cancer in the organism which has the mutation

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12
Q

Okazaki fragments

A

short DNA fragments that are formed on the lagging strand during DNA replication

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13
Q

codon

A

three base sequences within in the DNA that code for the amino acids in proteins

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14
Q

parsimony

A

the branching pattern in a phylogenetic tree that requires the smallest number of evolutionary changes

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15
Q

promoter

A

sequences of DNA in front of the gene that tell RNA polymerase where to start transcribing

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16
Q

evolution

A

change in frequency of alleles in a population of a species through time

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17
Q

natural selection

A

the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype

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18
Q

homology

A

similarity between species due to a common ancestor, part may have different functions

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19
Q

shared (common) ancestors

A

an individual from which all organisms in a certain group have directly descended from

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20
Q

descent

A

the origin of an inheritance

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21
Q

genes

A

a DNA segment that encodes a functional product

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22
Q

alleles

A

different versions of the same gene

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23
Q

Macroevolution

A

evolution of whole taxonomic groups over long periods of time.

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24
Q

microevolution

A

change within a species over a short period

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25
Q

speciation

A

the formation of a new species

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26
Q

Evidence of microevolution

A

Selective breeding
Direct observation of natural population
Living anatomy: vestigial structures

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27
Q

Evidence of speciation

A

Lab experiments

Natural populations

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28
Q

Species

A

Groups that can actually or potentially interbreed but do not breed outside the group

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29
Q

Ring species

A

Offer particularly compelling evidence that one species can split into two

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30
Q

What does uniformitarianism have to do with evolution?

A

It paved the way for the geological time scale we use for dating fossils.

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31
Q

What does extinction have to do with evolution?

A

Extinction of a species and natural selection go hand in hand; therefore, is a major component of progressive evolution. Extinction can be viewed as in Darwin’s eyes, a part of natural selection or as an outcome.

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32
Q

selective breeding

A

the process by which humans use breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits by choosing which males and females will sexually reproduce

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33
Q

Examples of selective breeding include:

A

various breeds of domesticated animals/plants, High-runner mice

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34
Q

We directly observe change through time through (textbook example); (Adams’s examples)

A

Field Mustard; Soapberry Bug and microbes

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35
Q

What are vestigial organs?

A

organs that appear to be evolutionary leftovers

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36
Q

What is an example of a pseudogene?

A

CMAH

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37
Q

Examples of vestigial organs include:

A

tailbone and arrector pili in humans, wings on a brown kiwi, and the spur on the royal python

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38
Q

An example of a ring species is the

A

three-spined sticklebacks

39
Q

What is extinction?

A

the end of a particular group (taxon, species, etc.)

40
Q

What is succession?

A

the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time

41
Q

What are fossils?

A

traces of any type indicating existence of some organism in the past

42
Q

Can fossils exist of species still living today? If so give an example.

A

Yes, coelacanth

43
Q

extinct

A

no longer in existence

44
Q

Law of succession

A

the general pattern of correspondence between fossil and living forms from the same locale

45
Q

transitional forms

A

a specie that exhibits traits common to ancestral and derived groups; “missing links”

46
Q

One argument that has been presented against evolution is the lack of _____. However, the fossil record is littered with the abundant (—-) which is what you would expect with evolution occurring and support for the law of succession.

A

transitional forms

47
Q

Evidence of descent with modification is the ___ of all life forms.

A

relatedness

48
Q

homologies

A

Structures shared because of shared genes

49
Q

descent with modification

A

the passing on of traits from parent organisms to their offspring

50
Q

homology

A

similarity between species that results from inheritance of traits from a common ancestor

51
Q

In your family whom is most related to whom

A

brothers and sisters

52
Q

homoplasies

A

similar traits in different organisms not due to decent but from convergent evolution

53
Q

What is an example of convergent evolution?

A

The wings of a bird and the wings of a butterfly

54
Q

Convergent evolution

A

the independent appearance in different lineages of similar derived characters

55
Q

What is an example of homologous traits?

A

bones in the adult limbs of different vertebrate species

56
Q

What three things can provide information on potential homologies?

A

comparative anatomy, embryology, and molecular biology

57
Q

anatomy

A

the structure of an organism

58
Q

embryology

A

the development of gametes, fertilization, and development of embryos and fetuses

59
Q

molecular biology

A

the structure and function of the macromolecules (e.g., proteins and nucleic acids) essential to life

60
Q

geologic time scale

A

a sequence of eons, eras, periods, epochs, and stages that furnishes a chronology of Earth history

61
Q

radiometric dating

A

techniques for assigning absolute ages to rock samples, based on the ratio of parent-to-daughter radioactive isotopes present

62
Q

uniformitarianism

A

the assumption that processes identical to those at work today are responsible for events that occurred in the past

63
Q

plate tectonics

A

a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of Earth’s lithosphere

64
Q

although not natural, indicates that species can change genetic makeup through time based on very specific selective pressures

A

artificial selection

65
Q

selective pressures

A

any phenomena which alters the behavior and fitness of living organisms within a given environment. It is the driving force of evolution and natural selection

66
Q

Some examples of artificial selection include:

A

pigeon tail feathers, tomatoes, and Brassica (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale, and kohlrabi are all derived form wild cabbage)

67
Q

natural selection

A

a short set of postulates and a consequence that follows if the postulates are true; requires a lot of time

68
Q

Four postulates of natural selection which are all testable

A
  1. Individuals in the population are variable
  2. This variation is genetic
  3. There is differential survival and reproductive success in the offspring (More offspring are produces than can survive)
  4. There will be competition for resources/mates and those that have genetic variations to compete most successfully will in turn reproduce the most/pass traits.
69
Q

The individuals selected for are the individuals ____. Reproduction of natural selection is ____.

A

most fit. nonrandom.

70
Q

represents the ability of an organism to pass its genes on to future generations

A

biological fitness

71
Q

Natural selection should result in populations that are ________.

A

better adapted to the current environmental conditions

72
Q

adaptation

A

a trait in an organism that increases its fitness relative to other individuals without this particular version of the trait in the current environment

73
Q

Natural selection acts on individual ____, but the evolutionary consequences alter population _____.

A

phenotypes, genetic structure

74
Q

Natural selection cannot instantaneously result in new traits, but new ___ that result in new traits through time.

A

mutations

75
Q

Most mutations ____ typically beneficial, but that doesn’t mean that ___ mutations are detrimental.

A

are not; all

76
Q

Selection acts on ______, NOT for the good of the ____.

A

individual, species

77
Q

_____ is the source of allelic variation and sometimes results in new genes.

A

Mutation

78
Q

family tree showing likely evolutionary relationships between organisms

A

phylogeny

79
Q

pleisiomorphy

A

an ancestral (primitive) trait

80
Q

a derived (descendant) trait

A

apomorphy

81
Q

a shared homologous trait that can help define relationships between species

A

synapomorphy

82
Q

uniquely derived trait in a single taxon

A

autapomorphy

83
Q

any monophyletic group at any level in classification

A

taxon

84
Q

an ancestor and all of its descendants

A

monophyletic group

85
Q

an ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants

A

paraphyletic group

86
Q

homoplasy/convergent trait

A

a similar trait that has evolved independently in more than one lineage

87
Q

when a mutation occurs such that an apomorphic trait reverts to its previous, more pleisiomorphic state

A

reversal

88
Q

a of related organisms based on synapomorphic traits; in a phylogeny, this begins at a nodal species and includes all descendants from tat point (in other words a monophyletic group)

A

clade

89
Q

a point in the phylogeny representing a divergence between two species from a single ancestor

A

node

90
Q

represents a single taxon proceeding through time

A

branch

91
Q

represents a unique extant or extinct taxon

A

tip or terminal node

92
Q

the two taxa that diverge from the same node in a phylogeny; meaning they are closely related because of a recent ancestor

A

sister taxa

93
Q

a node from which three or more taxa seem to arise; this is likely due to not enough character sampling

A

polytomy

94
Q

the taxon to which we compare the group of species for which we are trying to construct the phylogeny

A

outgroup

Evolution (5 decks)

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