Unit 4 List 1 Evolution

Question 1

Amino Acid Sequencing

Answer 1

Amino acid sequencing is the process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins and peptides. Numerous distinct amino acids have been discovered in nature but all proteins in the human body are comprised of just twenty different types.

Question 2

Analogous Structure

Answer 2

Analogous structures are features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature (compare to homologous structures) and which evolved in response to a similar environmental challenge.

Question 3

Biochemical Evidence

Answer 3

Thus, scientists use biochemical evidence (the amino acid sequence of proteins) to establish how organisms have evolved. Hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells, is one of the most widely studied of all proteins.

Question 3

Descent with Modification

Answer 3

Darwin defined evolution as “descent with modification,” the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.

Question 4

Biogeography

Answer 4

the branch of biology that deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.

Question 4

Anatomy

Answer 4

anatomy, a field in the biological sciences concerned with the identification and description of the body structures of living things. Gross anatomy involves the study of major body structures by dissection and observation and in its narrowest sense is concerned only with the human body.

Question 5

Cladogram

Answer 5

Cladograms are diagrams which depict the relationships between different groups of taxa called “clades”. By depicting these relationships, cladograms reconstruct the evolutionary history (phylogeny) of the taxa. Cladograms can also be called “phylogenies” or “trees”

Question 6

Common Ancestry

Answer 6

Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages — in other words, an ancestor that they have in common. For example, the common ancestors of two biological siblings include their parents and grandparents; the common ancestors of a coyote and a wolf include the first canine and the first mammal.

Question 7

DNA Sequencing

Answer 7

DNA sequencing refers to the general laboratory technique for determining the exact sequence of nucleotides, or bases, in a DNA molecule. The sequence of the bases (often referred to by the first letters of their chemical names: A, T, C, and G) encodes the biological information that cells use to develop and operate.

Question 8

Embryo

Answer 8

(EM-bree-oh) Early stage in the development of humans and other animals or plants. In animals that have a backbone or spinal column, this stage lasts from shortly after fertilization until all major body parts appear.

Question 8

Electrophoresis

Answer 8

Electrophoresis is a laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge. An electric current is used to move the molecules through a gel or other matrix.

Question 9

Embryology

Answer 9

Embryology is the study of development of an embryo from the stage of ovum fertilization through to the fetal stage. The ball of dividing cells that results after fertilization is termed an “embryo” for eight weeks and from nine weeks after fertilization, the term used is “fetus.”

Question 10

Homologous Structure

Answer 10

A homologous structure is an organ, system, or body part that shares a common ancestry in multiple organisms. This definition is found in evolutionary biology and uses the meaning of having a similar structure or origin.

Question 10

Homology

Answer 10

homology, in biology, similarity of the structure, physiology, or development of different species of organisms based upon their descent from a common evolutionary ancestor.

Question 11

Evolutionary Tree

Answer 11

A phylogenetic tree, also known as a phylogeny, is a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor.

Question 12

Fossil Record

Answer 12

The fossil record is made up of all the fossils that have been found, along with their relative ages. Scientists can look at patterns in the fossil record to understand the history of life on Earth. For example, the fossil record shows us that there has been an overall increase in the complexity of organisms over time.

Question 13

Paleontology

Answer 13

the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

Question 14

Phylogeny

Answer 14

Phylogeny, the primary goal of systematics, refers to the evolutionary history of a group of organisms. Phylogeny is commonly represented in the form of a cladogram (or phylogenetic tree), a branching diagram that conceptually represents the evolutionary pattern of descent (see Figure 1.9).

Question 14

Phenotypic Similarity

Answer 14

Phenotypic similarity is a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families.

Question 15

Phylogenetic Tree

Answer 15

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms. Phylogenetic trees are hypotheses, not definitive facts. The pattern of branching in a phylogenetic tree reflects how species or other groups evolved from a series of common ancestors.

Question 16

Vestigial Structures

Answer 16

A vestigial structure is a feature that a species inherited from an ancestor but that is now less elaborate and functional than in the ancestor.

Question 17

Adaptation

Answer 17

modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment : a heritable physical or behavioral trait that serves a specific function and improves an organism’s fitness or survival.

Question 18

Sedimentary Layers

Answer 18

Sedimentary rocks are laid down in layers called beds or strata. A bed is defined as a layer of rock that has a uniform lithology and texture. Beds form by the deposition of layers of sediment on top of each other. The sequence of beds that characterizes sedimentary rocks is called bedding.

Question 19

Behavior

Answer 19

Behavior is the change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus. Behavioral biology is the study of the biological and evolutionary bases for such changes.

Question 20

Competition

Answer 20

In biology, competition refers to the rivalry between or among living things for territory, resources, goods, mates, etc. It is one of the many symbiotic relationships occurring in nature. Same or different members of species compete for resources, especially for limited natural resources.

Question 21

Fitness

Answer 21

Biological fitness is defined as an organism’s ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring. Species that are more “fit” can pass on their genes and ensure their survival. Fitness evolution is when a species biological fitness can change from one generation to another.

Question 22

Gene Pool

Answer 22

A gene pool refers to the combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species. A large gene pool has extensive genomic diversity and is better able to withstand environmental challenges.

Question 23

Genetic Variation

Answer 23

Genetic variation is a term used to describe the variation in the DNA sequence in each of our genomes. Genetic variation is what makes us all unique, whether in terms of hair colour, skin colour or even the shape of our faces.

Question 24

Geographic Islolation

Answer 24

Geographic isolation is a term used to describe the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers. This type of isolation can lead to the development of distinct genetic and physical characteristics in different populations, and ultimately, the evolution of new species.

Question 25

Morphology

Answer 25

the branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms, and with relationships between their structures.
Linguistics

Question 26

Natural Selection

Answer 26

Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution. Organisms that are more adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success. This process causes species to change and diverge over time.

Question 27

Phenotypic Expression

Answer 27

An organism’s phenotypic expression refers to the observable characteristics in an organism that results from the expression of genes. Variations in gene expression lead to altered proteins being produced which lead to changes in physical and structural appearance.

Question 28

Physiology

Answer 28

Physiology is the study of how the human body works. It describes the chemistry and physics behind basic body functions, from how molecules behave in cells to how systems of organs work together. It helps understand what happens when your body is healthy and what goes wrong when you get sick

Question 29

Population

Answer 29

Population, in biology, is defined as all the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves. The term “population” encompasses a group of organisms of a single species that can interbreed and live in the same time in the same environment.

Question 30

Reproductive Isolation

Answer 30

Reproductive isolation is defined as “the inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences.”

Question 31

Sexual Reproduction

Answer 31

sexual reproduction, the production of new organisms by the combination of genetic information of two individuals of different sexes. In most species the genetic information is carried on chromosomes in the nucleus of reproductive cells called gametes, which then fuse to form a diploid zygote.

Question 32

Species

Answer 32

species, in biology, classification comprising related organisms that share common characteristics and are capable of interbreeding. This biological species concept is widely used in biology and related fields of study.

Question 33

Speciation

Answer 33

Speciation is how a new kind of plant or animal species is created. Speciation occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics.

Question 34

Trait

Answer 34

A trait, as related to genetics, is a specific characteristic of an individual. Traits can be determined by genes, environmental factors or by a combination of both. Traits can be qualitative (such as eye color) or quantitative (such as height or blood pressure).