Evolution Extension

Question 1

Recall the steps of natural selection

Answer 1

The steps of natural selection are:
1. Overproduction
2. Variation
3. Competition
4. Survival of the fittest
5. Reproduction
6. Specification

Question 2

Recall the causes of evolution through your hand

Answer 2

Pinky (Small) - Populations can decrease unequally, changing the gene pool

Ring Finger - Populations undergo sexual selection, leading to some alleles being desired

Middle Finger - The ‘m’ corresponds with mutations

Pointer Finger - The constant movement of the pointer finger symbolises the immigration and emigration of individuals and consequently their genes

Thumb - The thumbs up and thumbs down symbolises nature’s inherent desire to adapt to their changing environment. The size of the thumbs also shows it is macroevolution

Question 3

Define microevolution

Answer 3

Microevolution is the change in allele frequencies that occurs over time within a population

Question 3

Define macroevolution

Answer 3

Macroevolution is the major evolutionary changes over a longer period of time

Question 4

Define adaptive radiation

Answer 4

The diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches

Question 5

Define embryology

Answer 5

A branch of science that is related to the formation, growth, and development of embryo

Question 6

Define divergent evolution

Answer 6

The process where interbreeding groups from the same common ancestor accumulate differences

Question 7

Define convergent evolution

Answer 7

The process where independent organisms acquire similar traits

Question 8

Define parallel evolution

Answer 8

The process where independent species acquire similar traits while evolving together at the same time in the same ecospace

Question 9

Define co-evolution

Answer 9

The process when species reciprocally affect each other’s evolution due to interactions, such as predator-prey, plant-pollinator, or hot-parasite

Question 10

Define analogous structure

Answer 10

Features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature

Question 11

Define homologous structure

Answer 11

Similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions

Question 12

Define vestigial structure

Answer 12

An anatomical feature or behavior that no longer seems to have a purpose in the current form of an organism of the given species

Question 13

Explain how analysis of DNA and chromosome provide evidence for evolution

Answer 13

The DNA and chromosomes of species show how closely related species are through the similar in the structure of the DNA and chromosome base

Question 14

Explain how analysis of embryos provides evidence for evolution

Answer 14

Embryos between species cannot be distinguished, especially in the first few weeks

Question 15

Explain how comparing the amino acids of protein provides evidence for evolution

Answer 15

The comparison of amino acids provides evidence as protein sequences are very similar between species. Cytochrome c, a protein involved in the process of cellular respiration, highlights the similarities