5 evolution (bioninja summary) Flashcards
evolution definition
what is evolution in terms of genes
a change in the allele frequency of a populations gene pool over successive generations
what are the 2 proposed theories of evolution?
lamarck – species change via habitual use and disuse (rejected bc no genetic basis)
darwin (and wallace) – species change via natural selection (reinforced by modern genetics)
3 ways genetic variation is maintained in a population
- mutations (gene sequence changes)
- sexual reproduction (new gene combinations)
- gene flow (immigration and emigration)
2 ways population variety is altered
- random chance (genetic drift) - variant just so happens to die in chance event
- directed intervention (natural/artificial selection)
what is speciation?
when populations are isolated and the level of genetic divergence gradually increases (the longer the populations are seperated)
what supports speciation?
continuous variation over geographical range of related pops – gradual divergence
when does speciation occur?
when populations diverge to the extent that they can no longer interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring
what is a fossil?
the preserved remains or trace of a past organism
what is the fossil record
the totality of all fossils
what does the fossil record show? (law of fossil sucession)
shows that changes have occurred in organisms
– these changes have occurred in a consistent
sequence of development
example of law of fossil succession
ferns always appear before flowering plants
transitional fossils definition
represent intermediary forms within the evolution of a genus and demonstrate species connections
example of transitional fossils
The archaeopteryx links the evolution of birds (wings and feathers) to dinosaurs (jaws and claws)
what is selective breeding? how is it effective?
mating of animals with desired characteristics (artificial selection)
changes happen over fewer generations – phenotype extremes are promoted
example of selective breeding
Large variation in types of dog breeds
what is the “molecular clock”
If a particular gene has a stable mutation rate, the time of evolutionary divergence can be estimated