Unit 4 (Evolution- History, Mechanisms, Speciation, Origin of Life, Macroevolution)🧡 Flashcards
Define Evolution.
Change of allele frequencies over time.
What is the #1 mechanism by which Evolution occurs?
Natural Selection
How old is the Earth today?
4.6 Billion Years Old
How old are the….
1. Oldest bacterial fossils
2. Oldest multicellular fossils
3. Oldest Vertebrate fossils
4. Dinosaurs
- 3.6 Billion
- 2 Billion
- 500 Million
- 200-65 Million
How old are the…
1. First campfires
2. First modern Humans
3. First cities
- 1 Million
- 250 Thousand
- 10 Thousand
What were two incorrect views of those in the 19th century, regarding evolution?
- They believed the Earth was about 6000 years old.
- The Earth/it’s creatures don’t change or go extinct.
Around the mid 19th century new evidence arose to challenge existing belief. What are the four new bits of evidence?
- Geological evidence=Earth changes
- Fossil evidence of extinct organisms were found consistently in similar layers of rock.
- Diversity yet consistency in organisms
- Over population is inevitable mathematically
What are the five types of organism fossils we find in the strata? In order from oldest to newest.
- Prokaryotes (single cells)
- Multicellular
- Inverters (no spine)
- Vertebrates (spine)
- Humans
What are two patterns scientists in the 19th century noticed across species?
- Anatomy
- Embryos
What is Comparative Anatomy? What did they find?
- This is the study of comparing the skeletal features of different organisms.
- All vertebrates share skeletal similarities.
What is a Vestigial Structure?
An anatomical structure that has since lost it’s function, but remained during the process the evolution.
What are five examples of vestigial structures?
- Leg/hip bones in whales and snakes
- Auditory canals in whales
- Airfoil shaped wings in flightless birds
- Functionless eyes in cave animals
- Molars in vampire bats
What is Comparative Embryology? What patterns have we noticed?
- The comparing of embryos of different species.
- Many embryos show similarities, but many are lost before birth.
List the three examples of embryos with traits that show evolutionary change.
- Baleen Whales- embryos have teeth
- Whales- embryos have hair, leg buds, pinnae
- Humans- embryos have tails, gils
(These traits are lost before birth)
Who is Thomas Malthus and why is he important?
Malthus is a 19th century scientist who published a book discussing that overpopulation is inevitable.
Why?- (not enough food for the growing populace)
When did Charles Darwin live?
1809-1882
What was the title of the book Darwin published? What year was it published?
- On the Origin of Species
- 1859
What did Darwin propose and discuss in “The Origin of Species?”
- Gave tons of evidence for Evolution
- Proposed “Natural Selection” as the mechanism that causes evolution.
Somebody else proposed the “Natural Selection” theory alongside Charles Darwin? Who was it?
A.R Wallace
What is Selective Breeding?
Breeding an animal in order to pick for a specific wanted trait. (Done by humans)
What are the four Mechanisms of Evolution?
- Mutation
- Immigration & Emigration
- Genetic Drift
- Natural Selection
What is Mutation?
When the sequence of DNA changes
What is an Allele?
A variant of a gene
What is Gene Flow?
Movement in genetic material from one population to another.
What is Genetic Drift?
Change in allele frequencies due to chance. (Like a freak fire, leaving only some rats alive)
-Also known as the “Bottleneck Effect”
Why do smaller populations have a LARGER chance of genetic drift?
In larger populations, if 1/4 is killed, then odds are there is enough genetic variation in the other 3/4 to prevent any drastic genetic drift.
What is Natural Selection?
Change in allele frequencies due to a change in their fitness.
(Red rats don’t live to maturity-they can’t pass on their genes)
What does it mean by biological “Fitness?”
The ability to produce successful offspring (pass on your genes)
Walk yourself through how natural selection works.
-More offspring are born than survive, and offspring vary genetically.
-Some variations increase survivability (fitness), and then are passed on to the next generation.
-So on.
What is Differential Reproductive Success?
The case in which some groups have more surviving offspring than others. (They succeeded in reproducing a positive difference.)