Topic 5 Evolution Flashcards
(85 cards)
Define “evolution”
5.1
Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of a species change.
the cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population over time
Cumulative change: small changes over many generation
Understandings: Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of a species change.
Define “heritable characteristics”
5.1
gene-controlled factors that are passed down from parents to offspring
Understanding: Evolution occurs when heritable characteristics of species change.
Define “fossil record”
5.1
A fossil record is a group of fossils which has been analyzed and arranged in chronological and/or taxonomic order.
Understanding: The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
Define “strata” in relation to the fossil record
5.1
Fossils are often contained in rocks that build up in layers called strata. The strata provide relative timeline, with layers near the top being newer and layers near the bottom being older.
Understanding: The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
Outline how fossils provide that evolution has occurred
5.1
The sequence in which organisms appear in the fossil record
matches their complexity: with bacteria and
simple algae appearing first, fungi and worms
later and land vertebrates later.
The sequence also fts in with the ecology of the groups: plant fossils appearing before animal, plants on land before animals on land, and plants suitable for insect pollination beore insect pollinators.
Understanding: The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.
Define “selective breeding”
5.1
Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the process by which humans breed animals and plants for particular traits
Understanding: Selective breeding of domesticated animals shows that artificial selection can cause evolution.
Explain the process of selective breeding
5.1
- Individuals which show the most desirable traits are chosen to breed together.
- The next generation will have an increased frequency of the desired trait.
- The process is repeated for many generations until the entire population shows the desired trait
Understanding: Explain the process of artificial selection using selective breeding.
Outline how artificial selection can serve as evidence for evolution.
5.1
Selective breeding provides evidence of evolution as targeted breeds can show significant variation in a (relatively) short period.
Understanding: Explain the process of artificial selection using selective breeding.
Use an example to explain how selective breeding has lead to evolution in an animal species.
5.1
- Farmers breed animals in order to improve productivity (and thus profits).
- For example, dairy farmers will look for the cows that can produce the most milk and only breed those cows.
- These cows then pass their genes that contribute to higher milk production onto their offspring, increasing milk productivity each generation.
Understanding: Selective breeding of domesticated animals shows that artificial selection can cause evolution.
Define “homologous structure.”
5.1
Homologous structures are similar in structure but different in function. Homologous structures imply a common ancestor.
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Define “adaptive radiation.”
5.1
Similar organisms adapting to different environments/needs.
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Define “convergent evolution”.
5.1
Different organisms adapting to similar environments.
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Define “analogous structures “.
5.1
Analogous structures are similar in function but differ in structure.
* Analogous structures do not show common ancestry
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Contrast analogous structures and homologous structures.
5.1
Homologous structures: structures that are similar in organisms because they were inherited from a common ancestor.
Analogous structures: structures that are similar but were not inherited from a common ancestor, the organisms independently evolved the characteristic (via convergent evolution).Different organisms adapting to similar environments.
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Define “vestigial structure.”
5.1
Reduced structures that serve no function.
* These structures are explained by evolution as structures that no longer have a function and so are being gradually lost.
Understanding: Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are differences in function.
Define “speciation.”
5.1
Speciation is the process by which populations evolve to become distinct species that are reproductively isolated (no longer capable of interbreeding with each other to produce fertile offspring).
Understanding: Populations of a species can gradually diverge into separate species by evolution.
Describe the process of speciation.
5.1
- Two populations of a species become separated (eg. geographically) so that they do not interbreed.
- Natural selection then acts differently on the two populations, they will evolve in different ways.
- The characteristics of the two populations will gradually diverge. After a time they will be recognizably different.
- If the populations subsequently merge and have the chance of interbreeding, but do not actually interbreed, it would be clear that they have evolved into separate species.
Understanding: Populations of a species can gradually diverge into separate species by evolution.
Explain how continuous variation across the geographical range of related populations matches the concept of gradual divergence.
5.1
Because species can gradually diverge over long periods of time and there is no sudden switch from being two populations of one species to being two separate species, the decision to lump populations together or split them into separate species remains rather arbitrary.
The continuous range in variation between populations does not match either the belief that species were created as distinct types of organism and therefore should be constant across their geographic range or that species are unchanging. Instead it provides evidence for the evolution of species and the origin of new species by evolution.
Understanding: Continuous variation across the geographical range of related populations matches the concept of gradual divergence.
Explain how continuous variation across geographical ranges is evidence of evolutionary change.
5.1
Natural selection causes adaptation to the local environment, resulting in different genotypes or phenotypes being favoured in different environments.
Through natural selection acting on populations in localized regions, genetic differences between populations may accumulate. The populations will gradually diverge. If the differences between populations become great enough, it may lead to speciation.
Understanding: Continuous variation across the geographical range of related populations matches the concept of gradual divergence.
Explain how natural selection leads to changes in the melanistic variety of insects in polluted areas.
5.1
- In unpolluted areas tree branches are covered in pale-coloured lichens and peppered moths are well camoufaged against predators.
- Sulphur dioxide pollution kills lichens and soot from coal burning blackens tree branches.
- Therefore, melanic moths are well camoufaged against dark tree branches in polluted areas.
- In polluted areas the melanic variety of Biston betularia replaced the peppered variety over a relatively short time, but not in non- polluted areas.
Application: Development of melanistic insects in polluted areas.
Relate differences in pentadactyl limb structures to differences in limb function.
5.1
The pentadactyl limb in vertebrates is an example of a homologous structure.
* Human arms are adapted for tool manipulation and grasping
* Bird and bat wings are adapted for flying
* Horse hooves are adapted for galloping
* Whale and dolphin fins are adapted for swimming
This pattern is an indication of a common ancestor.
Application: Comparison of the pentadactyl limb of mammals, birds,
amphibians and reptiles with different methods of locomotion.
Define “variation.”
5.2
Variation is the genetic differences among individuals.
* Species that only carry out asexual reproduction can only rely on mutation for variation
Understanding: Natural selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species.
Define “natural selection.”
5.2
Natural selection is a process of evolution in which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
Understanding: Natural selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species.
Outline the conditions required for natural selection.
5.2
- Variation in characteristics of individuals
- Heredity of characteristics
- Reproduction of more offspring than the environment can support (compitition)
- Variation in fitness (ability of an organism to survive and reproduce)
Understanding: Natural selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species.