darwin (theory of evolution)

Question 1

before darwin?

Answer 1

most viewed the world as incompatible with evolution, unchanging

Question 2

aristotle?

Answer 2

recognized similarities among organisms and arranged life into linear sequence of increasing complexity

Question 3

argument from design

Answer 3

argues that complex structure of living things and adaptations of plants/animals are evidence of intelligent designer

Question 4

carl linnaeus?

Answer 4

developed taxonomic system where all organisms are arranged in hierarchical groupings based on similarity
–> believed it to be a divine plan

Question 5

charles lyell?

Answer 5

geological processes must have operated over long periods of time in a slow, gradual manner
–> uniformitarianism opposed to catastrophism

Question 6

uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism

Answer 6

uniformitarianism: earth’s crust was formed resulting from uniform, continuous processes
catastrophism: earth’s crust formed resulting from violent, unusual events (ex. the great flood)

Question 7

erasmus darwin?

Answer 7

all life diversified over millions of years
–> humans initially walked on 4 limbs

Question 8

georges curier?

Answer 8

established extinction through fossils

Question 9

mary annings?

Answer 9

family collected/sold fossils, many findings were published with no mention of her

Question 10

lamark’s theory

Answer 10

first detailed theory –> new, complex species descend from older, less complex ones

Question 11

what book did darwin publish?

Answer 11

on the origin of species by means of natural selection

Question 12

darwin’s 2 main arguments?

Answer 12

1) descent with modification
2) natural selection

Question 13

what did darwin observe in the galapagos?

Answer 13

• species on different islands in similar habitats were distinct
• species on island were closely allied to forms on nearby continent
• fossil mammals in s. america that are extinct were similar to present-day species

Question 14

what is transmutation?

Answer 14

changing of species

Question 15

who did darwin work with for his book?

Answer 15

charles lyell, russell wallace

Question 16

define descent with modification

Answer 16

all species have descended (with modifications) from 1+ common ancestors
–> change in characteristics over time

Question 17

what is evolution

Answer 17

a change in allele frequency
(heritable character) in a population over time

Question 18

what is a phylogenetic tree

Answer 18

diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms
–> root = common ancestor, tips = extant species

Question 19

what is the evidence of common descent

Answer 19

homology, vestigial structures, fossils, biogeography

Question 20

what is homology

Answer 20

similarities in structure despite differences in function
–> similarity due to inheritance from common ancestor
–> structural, developmental

Question 21

what are vestigial structures

Answer 21

remnants of structures that served a function in an ancestor

Question 22

how do fossils prove descent with modification

Answer 22

demonstrates how species change over time
–> includes transitional species (bridge gaps between groups)

Question 23

how does biogeography support descent with modification

Answer 23

living species tend to be similar to those geographically close
–> similar species are clustered in time/space

Question 24

what is natural selection

Answer 24

traits that better enable a member to compete for limited resources will cause those who bear the trait to leave more offspring
–> trait will become proportionately more common in future gens
–> mechanism underlying evolution

Question 25

critical factors for natural selection

Answer 25

• must be a fierce struggle for existence such that only a portion of offspring survive to reproduce
• success in struggle for existence is not random –> depends on traits facilitating it
• traits that increase success will become more common (evolution by natural selection

Question 26

these conditions must be met for evolution via natural selection to occur

Answer 26

• individuals vary in traits
• non-random association between trait and reproductive success
• trait is heritable

Question 27

what is tautology

Answer 27

a statement that is necessarily true by definition

Question 28

what is fitness

Answer 28

measure of the capability of an individual to contribute to the next generation (reproductive success)

Question 29

evidence for natural selection

Answer 29

• deductive reasoning (if necessary conditions are met, it’s the necessary outcome)
• consistent with observation that organisms are well suited to survive in their environ.
• analogy with artificial selection

Question 30

what is artificial selection

Answer 30

evolutionary process in which humans consciously select for or against particular features in organisms

Question 31

(T/F) Natural selection is goal driven and progressive

Answer 31

F
has no goal, is just a process
–> makes organisms better for CURRENT environ.

Question 32

(T/F) natural selection doesn’t act ‘for the good of the species’

Answer 32

T
selection arises from variation in relative, not absolute fitness
–> often favours detrimental traits

Question 33

what is evolutionary conflict?

Answer 33

when traits that maximize fitness in one individual are costly to another

Question 34

what is creationism

Answer 34

belief that the universe originated from divine creations
–> NOT scientific, cannot be refuted