Understanding Evolution: Key Factors Influencing Change

Question 1

why understanding evolution is important for us today?

Answer 1

Evolution is important because it explains how life developed on Earth & how different species are connected.

Question 2

natural selections (3)

Answer 2

survival of the fittest
genetic variation
environmental influence

Question 3

Organisms best adapted to their environment survive & reproduce

Answer 3

Survival of the Fittest

Question 4

Differences among individuals affect survival

Answer 4

genetic variation

Question 5

Changes in environment select for organisms with beneficial traits

Answer 5

environmental influence

Question 6

Genetic Mutations (3)

Answer 6

random changes
impact on evolution
mutation rate

Question 7

occur by chance & can introduce new traits

Answer 7

random changes

Question 8

beneficial mutations can lead to new adaptations

Answer 8

impact on evolution

Question 9

influences speed of evolutionary change

Answer 9

mutation rate

Question 10

genetic drifts (4)

Answer 10

random fluctuations
small populations
bottleneck effect
founder effect

Question 11

Changes in allele frequencies due to chance

Answer 11

random fluctuations

Question 12

More susceptible to genetic drift

Answer 12

small populations

Question 13

A drastic reduction in population size can lead to genetic drift

Answer 13

bottleneck effect

Question 14

When a new colony is started by a few members of original population

Answer 14

founder effect

Question 15

gene flow (3)

Answer 15

movement of genes
mixing of populations
prevents speciation

Question 16

By homogenizing gene pool of separate populations.

Answer 16

prevents speciation

Question 17

Leads to increased genetic diversity

Answer 17

mixing of populations

Question 18

Occurs when individuals migrate between populations

Answer 18

movement of genes

Question 19

sexual selection (3)

Answer 19

mate choice
sexual dimorphism
impact on evolution

Question 20

Organisms select mates based on certain traits

Answer 20

mate choice

Question 21

Differences in appearance between male & females

Answer 21

sexual dimorphism

Question 22

Traits that improve mating success become more common

Answer 22

impact on evolution

Question 23

artificial selection (3)

Answer 23

human influence
domestication
generic consequences

Question 24

Selective breeding to enhance desired traits in plants, animals

Answer 24

human influence

Question 25

Many species been shaped by artificial selection

Answer 25

domestication

Question 26

Can lead to reduced genetic diversity

Answer 26

genetic consequences

Question 27

coevolution (3)

Answer 27

predator-prey relationships
mutualistic relationships
interdependent evolution

Question 28

Species evolve in response to each other
ex: plant-pollinator, ant-plant, host-parasite

Answer 28

interdependent

Question 29

Can drive evolution of defensive/offensive traits

Answer 29

predator-prey

Question 30

cheetahs & gazelles, monarch butterflies & bird, lion & zebra, bear & fish, fox & rabbit, garter snakes & rough-skinned newt

Answer 30

predator prey

Question 31

Both species benefit & influence each other’s evolution.
ex: flowering plants & pollinators

Answer 31

mutualistic relationships

Question 32

coevolutionary relationship in nature

Answer 32

predator-prey and host-parasite relationships

Question 33

speciation (4)

Answer 33

formation of new species
allopatric speciation
sympatric speciation
adaptive speciation

Question 34

When populations become reproductively isolated

Answer 34

formation of new species

Question 35

Physical barriers divide populations.

Answer 35

allopatric

Question 36

Species evolve in same geographic area

Answer 36

sympatric

Question 37

Rapid evolution of many species from a single ancestor

Answer 37

adaptive radiation