B15: Genetics and Evolution Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is evolution?
change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time through natural selection, which may result in a new species
Who first proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Charles Darwin
What is the theory of evolution by natural selection?
all species of living things evolved from a common ancestor that developed billions of years ago
Describe Lamarck’s idea of inheritance.
organisms change over their lifetimes and these characteristics can be inherited
Why was the theory of evolution by natural selection controversial?
• challenged the idea that God made all of Earth’s animals and plants
• insufficient evidence at the time
• genes, inheritance, and variation were not understood
What is speciation?
gradual formation of a new species as a result of evolution
What evidence supports the theory of evolution?
• fossil record evidence
• evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
What did Mendel discover through breeding experiments on plants?
inheritance of characteristics is determined by units (genes) passed on unchanged to offspring
What are fossils?
remains of organisms from millions of years ago, found in rocks
How might fossils be formed?
• parts of an organism do not decay because the conditions needed for decay are absent
• traces of organisms are preserved
• parts of an organism are replaced by minerals
What are the benefits of the fossil record?
can learn how species changed and life developed on Earth, and can track the movement of species across
What are the problems with the fossil record?
• many early organisms were soft-bodied so left few fossils
• gaps in the fossil record as not all fossils have been found and some have been destroyed
What is extinction?
no individuals of a species are still alive
What is the binomial system?
naming of organisms by their genus and species
What classification system did Carl Woese introduce?
three-domain system of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota
Why can bacteria evolve rapidly?
they reproduce at a fast rate
How do antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria develop?
mutations that allow the strain to survive and reproduce by natural selection
Who worked with Darwin to propose the theory of evolution?
Alfred Wallace
What is the process of natural selection?
Natural selection states that organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce
