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Biology Unit 3 > Task 3: Evidence for Evolution > Flashcards

Task 3: Evidence for Evolution Flashcards

1
Q

What is absolute dating?

A

The process of determining the age of rocks and the fossils they contain based on the physical or chemical properties of, materials in the rock

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2
Q

What is adaptive radiation?

A

The process by which a species rapidly diversifies into many taxa with differing adaptations. It can be triggered by many factors, such as the emergence of reproductive barriers within a population, changes in the availability of resources, new challenges or new opportunities; it’s a type of divergent evolution.

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3
Q

What is analogous structure?

A

Features of organisms that have the same function but not the same structure

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4
Q

What is biogeography?

A

The study of the distribution of living things over a geographical area and how those distributions have changed over geological time.

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5
Q

What is comparative anatomy?

A

The study of the similarities and differences in structure between different organisms. A larger number of similar features indicates a more recent ancestor.

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6
Q

What is comparative genomics?

A

A field of biological research in which scientists use a variety of tools to compare the genome sequences of different species. The more similar in sequence the genes and genome of two species are, the more closely related those species are.

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7
Q

What is comparative/relative dating?

A

The process of determining the age of rocks and their contained fossils relative to one another, allowing an estimation of ‘oldest to youngest’, without assigning an actual age.

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8
Q

What is continental drift?

A

The relative movement of Earth’s continental landmasses, which appear to drift over Earth’s mantle.

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9
Q

What is convergent evolution?

A

A process whereby unrelated organisms evolve similar adaptations in response to a similarity in their environments

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10
Q

What is divergent evolution?

A

A process whereby related species evolves new traits over time spent living in different habitats, becoming increasingly different from the common ancestor and from one another, giving rise to new species.

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11
Q

What is DNA-DNA hybridisation?

A

A method used to analyse relatedness. Similarities in the base pairing of DNA strands are analysed to show evolutionary links between organisms.

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12
Q

What is embryology?

A

The study of the anatomy of embryos and how they develop over time until the adult stage.

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13
Q

What is gradualism?

A

A theoretical model of evolution that proposes there has been a steady, slow divergence of lineages, irrespective of gaps in the fossil organisms.

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14
Q

What is homologous structure?

A

Feature that has the same general structure but different functions in different organisms.

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15
Q

What is molecular homology?

A

The identification of shared biomolecular elements (generally genes) used to test the closeness of relationships between organisms. It can demonstrate common ancestry.

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16
Q

What is phylogeny?

A

Evolutionary relationships that exist between species, often expressed in a tree-like diagram.

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17
Q

What is punctuated equilibrium?

A

A theory of evolution that proposes new organisms evolve quickly after a long period of no change, rather than evolving by gradual change.

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18
Q

What is vestigial structures?

A

Biological structures that has lost most, if not all, of their original function in the course of evolution. In ancestral organisms the structures served a purpose, but in their descendants the structure becomes atrophied or rudimentary.

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19
Q

What types of qualitative and quantitative data can fossils provide?

A

Qualitative:
-Shape, texture and arrangements of bones
Quantitative:
-Size of bones
-Number of teeth
-Age

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20
Q

How can scientists infer behaviour or assume symbiotic relationship from fossil evidence?

A

-Examining structural features e.g. claws, wing bones, teeth type
-Trace fossils e.g. footprints, burrows or nests can provide clues about movement, reproduction or social behaviour
-Bite marks, multiple fossils found together can suggest predator-prey relationships, herding behaviour or even symbiosis (e.g. fossilised corals with algae)

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21
Q

What is ment by fossil record and why might it have gaps?

A

A fossil record refers to all known fossils and the information they provide about past life on earth.
-It includes fossils from various time periods and locations.
-Gaps in the fossil record exist because:

-Fossilisation is rare process that occurs bc requires specific conditions (rapid burial)

-Geological activity can destroy fossils and many fossils reman undiscovered.

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22
Q
A
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23
Q

What is absolute dating?

A

The process of determining the age of rocks and the fossils they contain based on the physical or chemical properties of materials in the rock.

Absolute dating provides a specific age in years.

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24
Q

Define adaptive radiation

A

The process by which a species rapidly diversifies into many taxa with differing adaptations.

Triggered by factors like reproductive barriers, resource availability, and new challenges.

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25
What are analogous structures?
Features of organisms that have the same function but not the same structure.
26
What is biogeography?
The study of the distribution of living things over a geographical area and how those distributions have changed over geological time.
27
What is comparative anatomy?
The study of the similarities and differences in structure between different organisms.
28
What is comparative genomics?
A field of biological research that compares the genome sequences of different species to determine relatedness.
29
Define comparative/relative dating
The process of determining the age of rocks and their contained fossils relative to one another.
30
What is continental drift?
The relative movement of Earth’s continental landmasses.
31
What is convergent evolution?
A process whereby unrelated organisms evolve similar adaptations in response to environmental similarities.
32
Define divergent evolution
A process whereby related species evolve new traits over time spent in different habitats.
33
What is DNA-DNA hybridisation?
A method used to analyse relatedness by examining similarities in the base pairing of DNA strands.
34
What is embryology?
The study of the anatomy of embryos and their development over time.
35
What is gradualism in evolutionary theory?
A theoretical model proposing a slow divergence of lineages over time.
36
Define homologous structures.
Features that have the same general structure but different functions in different organisms.
37
What is molecular homology?
The identification of shared biomolecular elements to test the closeness of relationships between organisms.
38
What does phylogeny refer to?
Evolutionary relationships that exist between species, often expressed in a tree-like diagram.
39
What is punctuated equilibrium?
A theory proposing that new organisms evolve quickly after long periods of stability.
40
Define vestigial structures.
Biological structures that have lost most of their original function through evolution.
41
What are the steps involved in fossilisation?
* Death * Rapid burial * Decay of soft parts * Permineralisation * Uplift and exposure
42
What types of quantitative data can be gained by studying fossils?
* Exact measurements of bones, teeth, or shells * Radiometric dating results * Number and frequency of certain fossil types
43
What types of qualitative data can be gained by studying fossils?
* Morphology * Evidence of behaviour * Pathologies
44
What is a fossil record?
The total collection of preserved remains, impressions, or traces of organisms found in sedimentary rock layers over geological time.
45
Why can there be gaps in the fossil record?
* Fossilisation is rare * Erosion and tectonic activity * Sampling bias * Soft-bodied organisms decompose easily
46
What is the difference between gradualism and punctuated equilibrium?
* Gradualism: Slow and steady evolution * Punctuated equilibrium: Rapid changes after long periods of stability
47
How does biogeography provide evidence for evolution?
It shows how species with shared ancestry have adapted differently due to isolation and environmental pressures.
48
What is convergent evolution?
Unrelated species evolve similar traits independently due to similar environmental pressures.
49
How does adaptive radiation contribute to divergent evolution using Australian marsupials as an example?
Adaptive radiation is where a single ancestral species rapidly evolves into many different species, each adapted to a unique ecological niche.
50
What is the Law of Superposition?
In undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest at the top.
51
What is the main difference between relative dating and absolute dating?
Relative dating determines the sequence/order of fossils; absolute dating provides an actual age in years.
52
What are homologous structures?
Common physiological traits shared by different organisms, explained by descent from a common evolutionary ancestor.
53
What are analogous structures and their significance in evolution?
Features in unrelated organisms that serve similar functions but have different structural origins, indicating convergent evolution.
54
How does comparative embryology support the theory of evolution?
Similar embryonic features across different vertebrates suggest a common ancestor.
55
What do all five groups of vertebrates share?
A common ancestor ## Footnote This is indicated by similar early development patterns.
56
What does comparative embryology provide evidence for?
Descent with modification ## Footnote This is a key concept in evolutionary theory.
57
How do genes influence comparative embryology?
They control development, indicating shared ancestry through similar embryonic stages.
58
What is comparative genomics?
A field that uses biotechnology to analyze and compare DNA sequences of different species.
59
What can scientists determine by comparing genomes?
* Similar genes, sequences, or proteins * Degree of relatedness between species * Construct evolutionary trees (phylogenies)
60
What indicates that species are closely related?
Fewer differences in their genomes.
61
What is a limitation of comparative genomics for extinct species?
DNA degradation ## Footnote Most extinct species lack recoverable DNA.
62
What is another limitation when studying extinct organisms?
Incomplete genomic data ## Footnote Ancient DNA is often fragmented and contaminated.
63
What is a challenge with fossilized remains?
They typically preserve only bones or imprints, not soft tissue or genetic material.
64
List the categories of evidence for evolution.
* Fossil evidence/record * Comparative anatomy * Comparative embryology * Comparative genomics * Biogeography * Vestigial structures
65
What is Lamarck’s theory of transmutation of species?
Organisms change over time in response to their environment through use and disuse of body parts.
66
Define gradualism.
A theory that evolution occurs slowly and steadily.
67
Define punctuated equilibrium.
A theory that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.
68
Define biogeography.
The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.
69
Define vestigial structures.
Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.
70
Define homologous structures.
Structures that are similar due to shared ancestry.
71
Define comparative genomics.
The analysis and comparison of genomes from different species.
72
Why is the fossil record considered patchy and incomplete?
Due to factors like erosion, lack of suitable conditions for fossilization, and the rarity of fossilization events.
73
What evolutionary pattern explains the similarities between the thylacine and the American grey wolf?
Convergent evolution.
74
Do birds and bats share a closer relation to each other than to mice and crocodiles based on wing structure?
No, the wings are analogous structures and not evidence of close relation.
75
Propose a reason why the Hawaiian archipelago has many species of fruit flies.
Isolated environments allow for diverse adaptations.
76
What is adaptive radiation?
The process by which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species to adapt to different environments.
77
What process resulted in the similarities between the sugar glider and the flying squirrel?
Convergent evolution.
78
How would the sugar glider and the flying squirrel differ in other ways?
One is a marsupial and the other is a placental mammal.
79
What does embryological evidence about bird embryos developing a fourth finger and fifth toe suggest?
It indicates common descent.
80
Would you expect a complete fossil skeleton of a common ancestor of birds to have been found?
No, it is unlikely due to the rarity of fossilization.
81
Give an example of divergent evolution based on New Zealand's native birds.
The five species of Kiwi developing unique traits.
82
What type of evolution accounts for the similarities between kiwi and other flightless birds?
Convergent evolution.
83
Would molecular homology studies show that New Zealand's flightless birds are more closely related to birds or mammals?
More closely related to birds.
84
What does the fossil record of the hoatzin demonstrate?
Endemism to South America and geographic isolation.
85
Provide an example of palaeontology as evidence for evolution.
The 10-million-year-old skull fragment of the hoatzin.
86
Provide an example of biogeography as evidence for evolution.
The hoatzin being endemic to South America.
87
Provide an example of morphology as evidence for evolution.
The presence of wing claws in hoatzin chicks similar to archaeopteryx.
88
Provide an example of genetics as evidence for evolution.
Genetic analysis showing the uniqueness of the hoatzin.

Biology Unit 3 (33 decks)

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