Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

Direct Observation

Answer 1

Used in species that reproduce quickly; insects and bacteria

Question 2

Examples of Direct Observation

Answer 2

-Peppered moth coloration in industrial England; darker moths survive due to soot; selective advantage to darker moths
*NOT EVOLUTION, merely selective advantage/selection
-Antibiotic resistance in bacteria; selective pressure is to survive through antibiotic; competitive advantage to bacteria that can outlive antibiotic
*EVOLUTION, bacteria reproduce so quickly that many generations go by; new strains created = new species from common ancestors

Question 3

Divergent Evolution

Answer 3

Species evolve in different directions from common ancestor due to environment
Ex) Reproductive structures in flowering plants

Question 4

Convergence

Answer 4

Similarities occur not because of common ancestry but because of similar selection pressures; independently, similar phenotypes will evolve in distantly related species due to the same evolutionary pressures
Ex) White winter coat of arctic fox and ptarmigans plumage are adaptations to environments; benefits of predators not seeing them

Question 5

Fossil Structures

Answer 5

Record of many species that are extinct; helps show relatedness among species using common structures
Ex) Trilobites and dinosaurs

Question 6

Homologous Structures

Answer 6

Similar construction of these appendages indicates that these organisms share a common ancestor
Ex) Ulna in humans, dogs, birds, and whales; as its subjected to different environmental pressures, it changes/adapts

Question 7

Analogous Structures

Answer 7

Features of different species similar in function but do not derive from common ancestral feature
Ex) Fins in sharks vs. wings in bats

Question 8

Vestigial Structures

Answer 8

Remnants of ancestral homologous structures that have no present adaptive function
Ex) Cave salamanders have eyes
Ex) Coccyx in humans
Ex) Wings in flightless birds

Question 9

Biogeography

Answer 9

Distribution and development of species based on location
-Groups evolved before Pangea broke up are distributed worldwide
-Groups that developed after breakup appear only in certain regions/continents
-Species are separated by mountain ranges, large rivers, or other physical barriers

Question 10

Molecular Biology

Answer 10

-Closely related organisms have similar DNA sequences
-Genetic code is universal
-Protein homology

Question 11

Misconceptions of Evolution

Answer 11

• Evolution is just a theory: Lots of evidence; Best model to work with so far
  -Individuals evolve: Takes many generations; Individuals go through natural selection
  -Evolution explains the origin of life: Evolution is meant to explain the origin of species
  -Organisms evolved on purpose: Organisms evolve based on random chance and selective pressures