Evolution

Question 1

Describe a population

Answer 1

A population is an interbreeding group of organisms.

Question 2

What is a gene pool

Answer 2

A gene pool is the total genetic information available in a population.

Question 3

How do we get variation in a gene pool?

Answer 3

Mutations, Recombination, and random pairing of gametes

Question 4

How could variation in a gene pool decrease

Answer 4

Natural disasters and hunting is an example of how variation in a gene pool can decrease.

Question 5

Why is variation important? Describe a particular situation in which genetic variation would be important.

Answer 5

Variation is important because it leads to the differentiation of species within a population. It helps species evolve and reproduce, benefiting the later species to come.

Question 6

How do we calculate allele frequencies

Answer 6

Allele frequency is determined by dividing the number of a certain allele by the total number of alleles for that trait in the population.

Question 7

what scientist described natural selection

Answer 7

Charles Darwin

Question 8

what led Charles Darwin to understand the theory of natural selection

Answer 8

Visiting the Galapagos Islands and discovering the evolution of finches is what led to Darwin’s understanding of natural selection.

Question 9

What does natural selection act upon?

Answer 9

Natural selection acts on an organism’s phenotype.

Question 10

What are the three types of natural selection

Answer 10

disruptive, directional, and stabilizing selection

Question 11

What is an adaptation

Answer 11

Adaptation is the physical or behavioural characteristic of an organism that helps an organism to survive better in the surrounding environment. An example of adaptation is long necks of giraffes reaching top of trees.

Question 12

Geographic Isolation

Answer 12

is the physical separation of members of a population.

Question 13

Habitat Isolation

Answer 13

species that live in different habitats within the same area

Question 14

Behavioral Isolation

Answer 14

boundaries that exist based on actions/communication

Question 15

Temporal Isolation

Answer 15

what time of day/week/month/year are you out at

Question 16

Why must reproductive isolation occur in order for speciation to occur

Answer 16

Reproductive isolation must occur so that the gene pools are isolated. When the gene pools are isolated, changes that occur in one gene pool will not be carried over to the other gene pool. Over time, with the gene pool changing it will result in new species producing

Question 17

Who originally developed the idea for continental drift

Answer 17

Alfred Wegener

Question 18

What drives the shift of tectonic plates

Answer 18

The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move.

Question 19

Describe a convergent boundary and what it forms

Answer 19

Convergent plate boundaries are when two plates move towards each other (volcanic activity; mountain).

Question 20

Describe a divergent boundary and what it forms.

Answer 20

Divergent plate boundaries are when the two plates move away from each other (rift).

Question 21

Describe a divergent boundary and what it forms

Answer 21

Divergent plate boundaries are when the two plates move away from each other (rift).

Question 22

Describe a transform boundary.

Answer 22

Transform plate boundaries are when the two plates slide past each other.(Earthquakes)

Question 23

explain convergent evolution

Answer 23

Convergent evolution is ecological pressures that cause a similarity in structure or function, but not from a common ancestor. For example, bats and birds.

Question 24

Explain divergent evolution.

Answer 24

Divergent evolution is when there are differences in organisms but shared a common ancestor. For example, the Galapagos Finches.

Question 25

How are fossils formed?

Answer 25

When dead organisms are buried in and sediment later hardens to rock

Question 26

Describe analogous structures.

Answer 26

Structures that have the same function but different structures, and no common descent

Question 27

Describe homologous structures.

Answer 27

Parts with similar basic structure

Question 28

Describe vestigial structures.

Answer 28

Reduced body parts (in comparison to the same complex structure and other organisms) that have little to no function; remnants of an ancestor.

Question 29

What is embryology?

Answer 29

Embryology is patterns of embryological development which can indicate a common ancestry.

Question 30

How can we determine the ages of fossils?

Answer 30

Superposition - oldest organisms on the lower layers, youngest on the top, or Radioactive Isotope Dating - Measuring the proportion of an isotope relative to its more stable form (half life)