Evolution Flashcards

1
Q

What is the biological definition of evolution?

A

A change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift

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2
Q

What are three important, non-biology definitions of evolution?

A
  1. A process of formation or growth
  2. A process of gradual, peaceful, and progressive change or development, as in social or economic structure of institutions
  3. A pattern formed by, or as if by, a series of movements: the evolution of a figure skater
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3
Q

Definition of evolution in terms of alleles

A

A change in allele frequencies in a population from generation to generation

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4
Q

What is a gene?

A

A unit of DNA that codes for a protein

A unit of heredity

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5
Q

What are alleles?

A

Alternate forms of the same gene; different alleles may code for different phenotypes

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6
Q

What is a phenotype?

A

The set of observable physical characteristics of an organism, a product of genes and the environment

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7
Q

What is a genotype?

A

An individual’s set of genes

The pair of alleles an organism has for a gene

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8
Q

What does it mean to be inherited?

A

Passed from parent to offspring via genes

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9
Q

What is a mutation?

A

A permanent change in an organism’s DNA sequence that may or may not result in phenotypic change

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10
Q

How can mutations occur?

A

Randomly or due to physical, chemical, or biological agents

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11
Q

Mutations are the source of what?

A

All genetic variation

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12
Q

What is frequency in a biological sense?

A

How common an allele is in a population relative to the alleles for that gene

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13
Q

What is population in a biological sense?

A

The set of individuals of a species that live in the same area and can interbreed

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14
Q

What is an inference?

A

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

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15
Q

What are the three inferences made about evolution by natural selection?

A
  1. Survival and reproduction differ among varied phenotypes in response to an environmental pressure
  2. Individuals with phenotypes better suited to the environment pass their alleles to offspring at a greater rate than individuals with phenotypes poorly suited to their environment
  3. Alleles for an adaptive phenotype well suited to the environment are more common in the population in the next generation
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16
Q

What is natural selection?

A

When individuals with certain heritable characteristics are more likely to survive/reproduce in their environment because of those characteristics.

Alleles for these characteristics thus become more common in the next generation

17
Q

Populations can only evolve regarding traits that are _________

A

Heritable/Inherited

18
Q

What are 2 observations of evolution in terms of random events?

A
  1. Random occurrences can result in evolution of a population
  2. These populations are not always better suited to their environment
19
Q

What are 3 inferences of evolution in terms of random events?

A
  1. Evolution is not always predictable
  2. Evolution does not always result in better adapted populations
  3. Evolution can happen via multiple mechanisms
20
Q

What is genetic drift?

A

When there are random, non-adaptive changes in allele frequency between generations

21
Q

What is an observation of evolution in terms of allele frequency?

A

Allele frequencies can’t change if 100% of the population has the same allele

22
Q

What is an inference of evolution in terms of allele frequency?

A

Evolution works on preexisting variation in a population

23
Q

What are 3 inferences of evolution in terms of mutations and adaptations?

A
  1. Evolution is not goal-oriented
  2. Organisms don’t mutate or adapt because they “need to”
  3. Individuals/populations poorly suited to the environment may die out
24
Q

What is an inference of evolution based on migration/gene flow?

A

Evolution can occur via migration, or gene flow, as new alleles are introduced to a population

25
Q

Mutations are…

A

The ultimate source of all genetic variation

26
Q

By default, introducing a new allele to a population does what to it?

A

Changes the allele frequency of that population

27
Q

What are the 4 mechanisms from which evolution can occur?

A

Natural selection, mutations, genetic drift, and gene flow

28
Q

Which mechanism(s) of evolution result(s) in adaptive/non-random evolution?

A

Natural selection

29
Q

Which mechanism(s) of evolution result(s) in non-adaptive/random evolution?

A

Mutations, genetic drift, and gene flow

30
Q

What is gene flow?

A

Movement of alleles from one population to another

31
Q

Phenotype is the product of both ______ and _______.

A

Genes, the environment