Final Review Flashcards
(23 cards)
Selective pressure
Any reason for organisms of certain phenotypes to have a survival advantage or disadvantage
Examples of selective pressures
Droughts cause shorter growing seasons, food availability, light for plants
Describe the two fitness components of reproduction
- Probability of survival
2. Average number of offspring
Differential Reproduction
The difference in expected number of surviving offspring that can be attributed to having one particular genotype or phenotype instead of another
Describe the modern synthesis genetic basis for evolution
Adaptive evolution = mutations (Variation) + Natural Selection
Microevolution
Within species/population (Population genetics)
Macroevolution
Among species (Phylogenetics)
Intelligent Design
God of the gaps theory; fills in what is not understood
Theistic Evolution
Doesn’t have science and religion overlap; God created everything but evolution changes it
Define Hypothesis
Proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation
Define Fact
Something with large amounts of support, but new evidence will change it
Examples of facts changing
DNA is genetic material; used to think it was protein
Define Theory
Connection of a bunch of facts, evidence with reasoning
Example of a theory
Global Warming
Describe three lines of evolutionary evidence
Fossil Record, gene patterns, comparative studies
Describe how the fossil record shows evidence for evolution
Transitional and intermediate forms of animals show water to land and others; phytogeography helps determine the movement of similar traits
Describe how gene patterns show evidence for evolution
Mutations show changes in DNA pattern, substitutions with the molecular clock, pseudogenes show what once was
Vestigial Structures
Structures that used to have a purpose but no longer do
Examples of vestigial structures
Legs on snakes, wings of flightless birds, eyes of cave animals, goosebumps
Name three reasons why evolution is important
Agriculture, Health care, conservation
Describe how agriculture is impacted by evolution
Foods can be artificially selected for through change of ploidy; insects and weeds evolve quickly against pesticides
Describe how our health is impacted by evolution
Immunity is created through fighting pathogens, vaccines are created, red queen hypothesis
Describe how conservation is impacted by evolution
Without variety, organisms cannot adapt to the changing environment, phylogenetic information helps us to keep genetic diversity
