evolution

Question 1

Darwin’s theory of evolution

Answer 1

• Natural selection
• Mutation & sexual recombination
• Geographic variation
• Adaptations

Question 2

cladograms/phylogenies/trees

Answer 2

Diagrams that show relationships between different groups

Question 3

Causes of environmental change

Answer 3

• if the environment changes, organisms that have traits suited to the new environment have a better chance of surviving and passing on their genes
• A species can adapt to a changing environment as long as some of the individuals have traits suited to that environment
• Individuals cannot change to fit the environment

Question 4

K - strategist

Answer 4

Organisms that produce few offspring and can take a long time to grow, may evolve more slowly

Question 5

R - strategist

Answer 5

Organisms that reproduce quickly and produce many offspring can evolve more rapidly

Question 6

Evidence for evolution

Answer 6

• The study of fossils provides strong evidence for evolution
• the fossil record reveals that organisms have evolved in a historical sequence

Question 7

Transitional forms

Answer 7

• Darwin predicted that intermediate forms should be represented in the fossil record
• Many fossils link early extinct species with species living today

Question 8

Biogeography

Answer 8

• The geographic distribution of species
• Organisms evolve from common ancestors

Question 9

Comparative anatomy

Answer 9

• The comparison of body structures in different species

Question 10

Homologous structures

Answer 10

• features that often have different functions but are structurally similar because of common ancestry

Question 11

Vestigial structures

Answer 11

• structures no longer used by an organism, yet still present (appendix)

Question 12

Embryology

Answer 12

• The study of the development of the anatomy of an organism to its adult form

Question 13

Molecular biology

Answer 13

• Comparisons of DNA and amino acid sequences between different organisms often reveal new evolutionary relationships or confirms existing ones

Question 14

Populations

Answer 14

• A group of individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time
• Populations are the units of evolution

Question 15

Species

Answer 15

• a group of populations whose individuals can interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 16

Population genetics

Answer 16

Studies how populations change genetically over time

Question 17

The modern synthesis

Answer 17

Connects Darwin‘s theory with population genetics

Question 18

A gene pool

Answer 18

The total collection of genes in a population at any one time

Question 19

Micro evolution

Answer 19

A change in the relative frequencies of alleles in a gene pool

Question 20

Genetic drift

Answer 20

A change in the gene pool of a population due to chance

Can alter allele frequencies in a population

Question 21

Gene flow

Answer 21

Is the movement of individuals or gametes between populations

Can alter allele frequencies in a population

Question 22

Macroevolution

Answer 22

Long-term changes in species (billions of years)

Question 23

Gradualism

Answer 23

Evolutionary changes are gradual, producing many intermediate forms

Question 24

Punctuated equilibrium

Answer 24

Evolution occurs in spurts — periods of relatively rapid change separated by long periods of stasis

Question 25

Causes of evolutionary change

Answer 25

Isolation : anything that prevents two groups within a species from breeding Geographic isolation : populations separated by a physical barrier Reproductive isolation : populations will not breed together, even if in the same area

Question 26

Evolutionary fitness

Answer 26

An individuals fitness is the contribution it makes to the gene pool of the next generation

Question 27

2 important things to remember about evolution

Answer 27

1) Individual organisms do NOT evolve 2) The individual organism has NO control over it’s traits

Question 28

Endangered species

Answer 28

- often have reduced variation - low genetic variability

Question 29

Extinction

Answer 29

- The disappearance of an entire species - 5 recorded mass extinctions - currently experiencing the 6th ? - makes niches available for new organisms to evolve