Diversity and Evolution

Question 1

What are the Titles under the Hierarchal Classification system that we use to classify organisms?

Answer 1

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 2

An organism’s two part name, is constructed of two of the Classification titles, which ones?

Answer 2

The Genus & Species

The Genus is capitalised, the Species lower case - both are italicised

Question 3

What are six categories of facts for Evidence of Evolution?

Answer 3

Morphological
Comparative
Homologous Features
Analogous Features
Vestigial Features
Embryological Evidence

Question 4

Morphological Evidence In being evidence for Evolution

Answer 4

Having to do with shape & structure 
    Can be found in the fossil record
    Identify features in fossilised 
    (Mineralised) parts of organisms or
    Mummified tissues
    Can look for transitional forms
        Intermediates between ancestral &
        derived species

Question 5

Comparative Anatomy being evidence for Evolution

Answer 5

It’s the search for similar or distinguishing features features among living organisms
Number of similarities tells us
roughly how closely related some
organisms are

Question 6

Homologous Features being evidence for Evolution

Answer 6

Features that have similar underlying structure as a result of shared ancestry… but the features may serve different functions now - these feature do not need to look the same

Question 7

Analogous Features being evidence for Evolution

Answer 7

Features look similar, or may just perform a similar function, but have different ancestral origins (evolved independently)

Eg. Wings of Bats, Birds, & insects
Cause by Convergent Evolution
Different organisms face the same
challenge, so they develop similar
solutions

Question 8

Vestigial Features being evidence for Evolution

Answer 8

A trait that was useful in the ancestor that now serves no function… or maybe a different function
Ex. Appendix (Used to be Caecum)
The pelvic girdle in whales
Claws in pythons or boas

Question 9

Embryological evidence for Evolution

Answer 9

Embryology is the study of development of fertilisation to “birth”

We all start as a Zygote, which is then carries out cell division, to create an Embryo (we all start off looking the same)
Ex. Gills, tails

Question 10

Biogeography being evidence for Evolution

Answer 10

Pattern of organism distribution that tells us something about their evolutionary history

Question 11

Fossil Records being evidence for Evolution

Answer 11

Evidence of Extinction

Fossilized remains of transitional forms

Question 12

Molecular Evidence for Evolution

Answer 12

All organisms have DNA

Question 13

What does Molecular Evidence provide?

Answer 13

Support for Common Ancestry & provides a source of variation, Mutations

Question 14

What are Mutations?

Answer 14

Copying errors that happen in DNA Replication during the formation of new cells/asexual reproduction
They are the only source of variation in asexually reproducing organisms
They occur at a regular rate, so by comparing DNA or amino acid sequences we can tell how closely related different species are, and when they’re diverged

Question 15

What is Phylogenetics?

Answer 15

The study of evolutionary relationships

The relationships are represented with trees

Question 16

What do nodes represent on a Phylogenetic tree?

Answer 16

A shared common ancestor

The closer the node = more closely related

Question 17

What is the Gradualism theory?

Answer 17

Evolution is slow
Accumulation of small changes
Many transitional forms

Question 18

What is the Punctuated Equilibrium theory?

Answer 18

Gould’s hypothesis
Evolution can be fast
Long periods without changes then bursts of new species

Question 19

Gradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium is a what?

Answer 19

Spectrum

Question 20

What are the number of Amino Acid differences in Human to Tuna sequences?

Answer 20

21

Question 21

What are the number of Amino Acid differences in Human to Bullfrogs?

Answer 21

19

Question 22

What are the number of Amino Acid differences in Human to Snapping Turtle?

Answer 22

14

Question 23

What are the number of Amino Acid differences in Human to Kangaroo?

Answer 23

10

Question 24

What are the number of Amino Acid differences in Human to Rhesus Monkey?

Answer 24

1

Question 25

What makes a species/organism/genre successful?

Answer 25

An individuals’ (& species) ability to persist in the environment is decided by reproductive success

Question 26

What is a species defined by?

Answer 26

The ability of its member’s to interbreed

Question 27

What is Biotic Potential?

Answer 27

A measure of an individuals’ success and ability to contribute

Question 28

What four factors effect Biotic Potential?

Answer 28

Birth Potential: # Of babies per birth
Breeding Frequency: How often they have babies
Length of Reproductive Life: From sexual maturity to “death or sterility”
Capacity for Survival: Likelihood the babies live

Question 29

What is Speciation?

Answer 29

The formation of a new species

Question 30

What is required for Speciation?

Answer 30

Selective pressures operating on a group of organisms
Pressure causes a divergence in strategy
Organisms become better adapted to particular conditions
Shape/Structure genetics
Groups can no longer interbreed
Reproductive Isolation

Question 31

What are the two types of Speciation?

Answer 31

Allopatric Speciation

Simpatric Speciation

Question 32

What is Allopatric Speciation?

Answer 32

Geographic isolation of groups
Each new group can experience different selective pressures (or mutations) & eventually are reproductively
isolated even if they are reintroduced

Question 33

What is Simpatric Speciation?

Answer 33

No geographic isolation
Spontaneous genetic change
Specialization to niches within an environment

Question 34

What is Artifcial Selection?

Answer 34

When humans (not the environment or nature) select which traits are desirable
    May not be naturally advantageous
        Domesticated Animals
        Designer Breeds
        Crops (agricultural)

Question 35

Sexual Selection

Answer 35

Female (usually) get to select for traits they find attractive

Question 36

What factors affect sexual selection?

Answer 36

Sexual Dimorphism
The sexes of a species look different - if a am,e can afford to look pretty, he’s healthy
Good Genes
Agree with Natural Selection
Parasites - female s will select against
They want good-looking kids (sons)

Question 37

Modern examples of Evolution

Answer 37

Antibiotic Resistance

Covid lineage/Variants