Origin of Species Flashcards
(44 cards)
What does the latin world for evolution (evolvere) mean ?
To roll out or away, unwrap, uncover, unfold
What is biological evolution ?
Descent with inherited modification. Ancestor to descendants.
Definition of Scientific Theory
An idea supported by observations or evidence from previous hypothesis testing to explain how a phenomenon happens.
What is the germ theory of disease?
Specific diseases are caused by specific microbes within the human or animal host
What are the three underlying principles of natural selection:
- Organisms have variation in their traits
2.Not all individuals will reproduce - Traits of survivors are inherited by offspring
What are the other 3 mechanisms of how biological evolution could happen besides natural selection?
-Mutation
-Migration
-Genetic Drift
What is the result of traits of survivors that are inherited by offspring ?
the traits that were more advantageous become more common in the next generation.
What are advantageous traits passed down also know as ?
Adaptations
What is an adaptation ?
a feature of an organism that is advantageous…it
helps an organism survive and/or reproduce in its current environment.
What does The Theory of Evolution by Natural selection attempt to explain ?
how evolution occurs by the process of natural selection
What is mutation ?
a change to the original sequence of an organisms genome
How can mutations occur ?
- Mismatched base pairs can happen
naturally during replication
2.Damage to DNA due to environmental exposures
(toxic chemicals, UV light, radiation)
Mutations only form in youth of organisms.
False (An individual can acquire a mutation during
their lifetime)
A mutation in a __________ cell would be
inherited by the offspring?
Why is a mutation a
mechanism of evolution ?
1.The trait (mutation) is a source of genetic variation in a
population (can increase variation)
2.If the trait (mutation) does not kill the individual, it has a chance to reproduce.
3.If the trait (mutation) is heritable, it can become more common in future generations
What is migration (gene flow) ?
Any movement of individuals, and/or the genetic material they carry, from one population to another.
Why is Migration a
mechanism of evolution ?
1.The introduced trait is a source of genetic variation
in a population (can increase variation)
2.If the introduced trait does not kill the individual, it has a chance to reproduce.
3.If the introduced trait is heritable, it can become more common in future generations
What is genetic drift ?
In every generation there are some individuals that are not able to reproduce for reasons that are due to chance.
The traits in a population may not necessarily the most “advantageous”.
Why is genetic drift a mechanism of evolution ?
- Is still a source of genetic variation in a population
(can increase the ratio of some traits, and decrease
the ratio of other traits) - Survivors still have a chance to reproduce.
- If the surviving trait is heritable, it can become more common in future generations
Adaptations are not required for evolution to occur.
True
What is descent with inherited modification ?
Change in gene frequency in a population from one generation to the next
What 2 things can traits be ?
Physical or behavioral
How are traits decribed as good or bad ?
- Advantageous
- Neutral
- Disadvantageous
How is it determined if the trait(s) are advantageous or disadvantageous ?
It depends on the specific environment
