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Geosci > Actual Exam 1 > Flashcards

Actual Exam 1 Flashcards

(105 cards)

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1
Q

What are Darwin’s two important claims?

A
  1. Species evolve over time.
  2. Natural selection is the mechanism of evolution.
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2
Q

Define natural selection.

A

A process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation.

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3
Q

List the five lines of evidence for evolution.

A
  1. Fossil record
  2. Comparative anatomy
  3. Embryology
  4. Molecular biology
  5. Biogeography
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4
Q

What is intelligent design?

A

A belief that life’s complexity is the result of a purposeful designer, rather than natural processes.

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5
Q

Why is intelligent design not considered science?

A

It is not testable or falsifiable.

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6
Q

Define a scientific hypothesis.

A

A testable prediction about how the world works.

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7
Q

What is a scientific theory?

A

A broad explanation based on extensive evidence that can predict future observations.

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8
Q

What are the main questions debated by early scholars concerning fossils?

A
  1. What are fossils?
  2. How are they formed?
  3. Do they represent extinct species?
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9
Q

What is neoplatonism (vis plastica)?

A

The idea that fossils were created by the ‘plastic force’ in the Earth, a mystical force.

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10
Q

What is Aristotelianism?

A

Belief in a fixed, unchanging Earth where species did not change.

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11
Q

Who recognized belemnites and crinoids as fossils of ancient life forms?

A

Conrad Gesner.

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12
Q

What was Leonardo da Vinci’s argument regarding fossils?

A

He argued that fossils were remains of living organisms and not just curiosities.

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13
Q

What did Niels Stenson (Steno) demonstrate about fossils?

A

He demonstrated that fossils were organic remains and contributed to the understanding of geological time.

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14
Q

What are glossopetrae?

A

Fossils of shark teeth mistaken for stones shaped like human tongues.

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15
Q

What is Steno’s work ‘De Solido’ about?

A

Steno’s work on the solid Earth, where he formulated principles of stratigraphy.

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16
Q

What is diluvialism?

A

The idea that fossils were created by a global flood (often linked with the Biblical flood).

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17
Q

What evidence did Leonardo da Vinci provide against diluvialism?

A

He argued fossils were remains of once-living organisms, not randomly scattered by a flood.

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18
Q

Fill in the blank: A _______ is a testable prediction about how the world works.

A

[scientific hypothesis]

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: The belief in a fixed, unchanging Earth where species did not change is known as _______.

A

[Aristotelianism]

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20
Q

What is Diluvialism?

A

The idea that fossils were created by a global flood

Often linked with the Biblical flood.

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21
Q

What evidence did Leonardo da Vinci provide against Diluvialism?

A

Argued fossils were remains of once-living organisms, not randomly scattered by a flood.

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22
Q

What are the three basic rock types?

A
  • Igneous: Formed from solidified magma or lava.
  • Sedimentary: Formed from the accumulation of sediments (where fossils are found).
  • Metamorphic: Formed by the transformation of existing rock under pressure and heat.
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23
Q

What is the Principle of Original Horizontality?

A

Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally.

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24
Q

What does the Principle of Superposition state?

A

In undisturbed strata, older layers are at the bottom.

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25
What is the Principle of Lateral Continuity?
Layers extend laterally until they thin out or are interrupted.
26
Who is William Smith, and what is his contribution?
He observed that fossils in rock layers follow a consistent pattern and can be used to date rocks.
27
Define an Index Fossil.
A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period.
28
What are the three properties of an Index Fossil?
* Widespread distribution. * Abundant. * Limited to a specific time period.
29
What is Biostratigraphy?
The use of fossils to establish the relative ages of rock layers.
30
What concept did Georges Cuvier demonstrate?
Extinction and catastrophism (the idea that species were wiped out by catastrophes).
31
Who is known as the Father of modern geology?
James Hutton.
32
What is Uniformitarianism?
The principle that the same geological processes observed today have occurred in the past.
33
What does the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships state?
If one geological feature cuts across another, the feature being cut is older.
34
What is Plutonism?
The theory that rocks formed from volcanic activity.
35
What is the Principle of Enclosing Relationships?
If one rock contains pieces of another, the enclosed rock is older.
36
What does the Principle of Inclusion indicate?
Fossils or pieces of rock within a layer must be older than the layer itself.
37
Contrast Huttonian Uniformitarianism with Cuvierian Catastrophism.
Hutton's idea of slow, gradual processes contrasts with Cuvier's belief in catastrophic events causing extinction.
38
Who was Charles Lyell?
A major proponent of uniformitarianism, wrote *Principles of Geology*.
39
What types of uniformity did Lyell advocate?
* Gradualism: Slow, continuous processes. * Uniformity of rate: The processes that shaped the Earth happen at the same rate throughout time. * Uniformity of law: The same natural laws apply at all times.
40
What was the state of knowledge circa 1850 regarding geology?
Understanding of geology and natural history was rapidly advancing, influenced by Hutton, Lyell, and Darwin.
41
Who is Charles Darwin?
Naturalist who developed the theory of natural selection.
42
What was the purpose of Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle?
To observe species and collect data for his later theory.
43
What did Darwin observe in the Galápagos Islands?
Variation among species in different regions.
44
What was the main argument of Malthus' Essay on the Principle of Population?
Population growth is checked by limited resources.
45
What is the concept of uniformity of law in natural sciences?
The same natural laws apply at all times.
46
Who were the key figures influencing the understanding of geology and natural history around 1850?
Hutton, Lyell, and Darwin.
47
What theory did Charles Darwin develop?
The theory of natural selection.
48
On which voyage did Darwin collect data for his theory?
HMS Beagle (1831-1836).
49
What did Darwin observe about species in different regions?
Noticed variation among species.
50
What was the title of Malthus' influential essay?
Essay on the Principle of Population.
51
When was the first edition of *Origin of Species* published?
1859.
52
Who independently developed the theory of natural selection alongside Darwin?
Alfred Russell Wallace.
53
What are the three main types of mammals?
* Placentals * Marsupials * Monotremes
54
What does biogeography study?
The distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space.
55
What is the Wallace Line?
A boundary separating species of Asian origin from those of Australian origin.
56
What is the definition of genotype?
Genetic makeup of an organism.
57
What is the definition of phenotype?
Physical expression of genes (traits).
58
What are genes?
Segments of DNA that code for traits.
59
What are alleles?
Different forms of a gene.
60
What is ecophenotypy?
Environmental influences on an organism's phenotype.
61
Fill in the blank: Variation is differences in traits within a ______.
population.
62
Fill in the blank: Diversity is differences across populations and ______.
species.
63
What are the three requirements for natural selection?
* Variation in traits * Heritable traits * Differential reproduction
64
What does overproduction of offspring refer to?
More offspring are produced than can survive.
65
What is fitness in the context of natural selection?
An individual's ability to survive and reproduce.
66
What does fecundity refer to?
The potential reproductive capacity of an organism.
67
What is stabilizing selection?
Favors average traits (e.g., human birth weight).
68
What is directional selection?
Favors one extreme trait (e.g., beak size in finches).
69
What is diversifying (disruptive) selection?
Favors both extremes of a trait.
70
What is genetic drift?
Random changes in allele frequencies, particularly in small populations.
71
What does descent with modification mean?
Species evolve over time through the accumulation of small changes.
72
Is evolution random?
No, natural selection is not random; it's driven by environmental pressures.
73
What is an example of evolution through natural selection?
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
74
What are plasmids?
Small DNA molecules in bacteria that can transfer genetic material.
75
What is the biological species concept?
Species are groups of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
76
What did Darwin notice about species in different regions?
Variation among species ## Footnote Particularly in the Galápagos.
77
What is the main argument of Malthus' Essay on the Principle of Population?
Population growth is checked by factors like famine and disease ## Footnote This influenced Darwin's idea of natural selection.
78
When was the first edition of *Origin of Species* published?
1859
79
Who developed the theory of natural selection independently alongside Darwin?
Alfred Russell Wallace
80
What are the three types of mammals?
* Placentals * Marsupials * Monotremes
81
What is biogeography?
The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space.
82
What does the Wallace Line separate?
Species of Asian origin from those of Australian origin
83
Define genotype.
Genetic makeup of an organism.
84
Define phenotype.
Physical expression of genes (traits).
85
What are genes?
Segments of DNA that code for traits.
86
What are alleles?
Different forms of a gene.
87
What is ecophenotypy?
Environmental influences on an organism's phenotype.
88
Fill in the blank: Variation refers to _______.
Differences in traits within a population.
89
Fill in the blank: Diversity refers to _______.
Differences across populations and species.
90
List the three requirements for natural selection.
* Variation in traits * Heritable traits * Differential reproduction
91
What is overproduction of offspring?
More offspring are produced than can survive.
92
Define fitness in the context of natural selection.
An individual's ability to survive and reproduce.
93
What does fecundity refer to?
The potential reproductive capacity of an organism.
94
What is stabilizing selection?
Favors average traits (e.g., human birth weight).
95
What is directional selection?
Favors one extreme trait (e.g., beak size in finches).
96
What does diversifying (disruptive) selection favor?
Both extremes of a trait (e.g., large or small bird beaks).
97
Define drift in evolutionary terms.
Random changes in allele frequencies, particularly in small populations.
98
What is descent with modification?
The concept that species evolve over time through the accumulation of small changes.
99
Is evolution random?
No, natural selection is not random; it's driven by environmental pressures.
100
What is bacterial resistance to antibiotics an example of?
Evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through natural selection.
101
What are plasmids?
Small DNA molecules in bacteria that can transfer genetic material, including mutations.
102
What is the biological species concept?
Species are groups of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
103
What are hybrids?
Offspring of two different species, which may thrive in new environments.
104
What is artificial selection?
Selective breeding by humans to encourage specific traits.
105
What was Darwin's dilemma?
Struggle to understand how natural selection could lead to complex traits.

Geosci (6 decks)

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