Evidence of Evolutionary Change

Question 1

List the types of evidence of evolution

Answer 1

• studies of natural selection
• fossil record
• biogeography
• convergent evolution
• selective breeding
• homologies

Question 2

List the 3 types of homologies

Answer 2

• anatomical
• developmental
• molecular

Question 3

Describe how fossils are a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 3

• fossils are compared according to age (descending)
• successive evolutionary change becomes apparent

Question 4

Describe how biogeography are a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 4

• unique species found on islands + other remote areas
• arisen as the species in these locations have evolved in isolation from the rest of the world

Question 5

Describe how convergent evolution are a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 5

2 diff species from diff lineages show similar characteristics as they occupy similar environments.

(completely random)

Question 6

Describe how selective breeding are a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 6

• programs + procedures designed to modify traits in domesticated species
• rely on the genetic variation
• resulting in evolution

(artificial selection)

Question 7

What is homology?

Answer 7

Fundamental similarity between species due to descent from a common ancestor.

Question 8

Describe how anatomical homology is a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 8

• structures that are anatomically similar
• as they are derived from a common ancestor

Question 9

Describe how developmental homology is a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 9

Species that differ as adults often bear striking similarities during embryonic stages.

Question 10

Describe how molecular homology is a type of evidence of evolution?

Answer 10

• similarities in cells at the molecular level shows that living species evolved from a common ancestor.
• similar gene sequences are found in very distantly related species

Question 11

Define homologous genes?

Answer 11

Two genes derived from the same ancestral gene

Question 12

What are the two subcategories of homologous genes?

Answer 12

• orthlogs
• paralogs

Question 13

Define orthologs

Answer 13

Homologous genes that occur in separate species.

• so same ancestral gene in different species

Question 14

Describe the evolution of orthologs.

Answer 14

• species separate
• gene mutates differently in each
• as DNA mutations occur at random locations within genes.
• if function conserved, orthologous genes retain high similarity

Question 15

Define paralogs

Answer 15

Homologous genes within a single species

Question 16

Define gene family

Answer 16

2 or more paralogs within the genome of a single organism

Question 17

Describe how evolution occurs at the genomic level

Answer 17

Changes in chromosome structure and number