BIO120 Introduction to Evolution and Ecology
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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the required textbook for BIO120?

Evolution: A Very Short Introduction

The theory of evolution supports the idea of special creation.

False

What are the two core tenets of evolution?

  • Species are created independently of each other, and adaptations occur randomly.
  • All species have a common ancestor, and adaptations result from natural selection.
  • Organisms on Earth have changed through time, and the changes are instantaneous.
  • Living things change over time, and adaptations have arisen through natural selection. (correct)

    • What are the two main areas of evolutionary study?

    <p>Evolutionary history and evolutionary mechanisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a sub-discipline of evolutionary history?

    <p>Genetics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a phylogeny?

    <p>A phylogenetic tree</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The rotation of branches on a phylogenetic tree changes the information it conveys.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Microevolution refers to evolutionary changes within a species, while macroevolution focuses on changes among species.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three main approaches to studying evolution?

    <p>Observational, theoretical, and experimental</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach to studying evolution involves manipulating a system to test a specific hypothesis?

    <p>Experimental</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of evolutionary mechanisms?

    <p>To understand the processes responsible for evolutionary change</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Theodosius Dobzhansky, what is the key to understanding biology?

    <p>Evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Evolution is a relatively new scientific concept.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common source of doubt regarding evolution?

    <p>Religious beliefs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Evolutionary processes are relevant to various fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental studies.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the herbicide that has led to the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds?

    <p>Roundup</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main takeaway from the 'Grandeur in this View of Life' quote by Charles Darwin?

    <p>The vast diversity of life on Earth is a testament to the power of evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mastering the information presented in the recap slides is considered sufficient to understand the course material.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the central theme of the next lecture in BIO120?

    <p>Darwin's big idea and its impact on biology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes natural selection?

    <p>The mechanism by which favorable traits become more common in a population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Genetic drift is more likely to have a significant impact in which of the following scenarios?

    <p>A small population with limited genetic diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Macroevolutionary changes refer to evolution at which level?

    <p>Evolutionary changes that lead to new species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scenario is an example of speciation?

    <p>A population of beetles splitting into two groups due to geographical barriers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of evidence supports the concept of common descent in evolutionary biology?

    <p>Fossil records showing gradual transitions between species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does gene flow impact a population?

    <p>It allows for the introduction of new alleles into the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes an important aspect of adaptive radiation?

    <p>It involves the diversification of a group into new ecological niches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of evolution, what does the term 'fitness' refer to?

    <p>The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term best describes the process by which two unrelated species develop similar traits due to adaptation to similar environments?

    <p>Convergent evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary driver of evolution, according to modern evolutionary theory?

    <p>Natural selection operating on genetic variation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Course Introduction

    • BIO120 is an introductory course covering the principles and concepts of evolution and ecology.
    • The course explores the origins of adaptation and biodiversity.

    Course Team

    • The course instructors include Luke Mahler, Megan Frederickson, and Jill Wheeler.
    • Jill and Romy are lecture teaching assistants (TAs).
    • Other TAs and technicians are also part of the team.

    Course Materials

    • The course syllabus is available on Quercus.
    • Students should carefully review the syllabus.
    • A required eBook "Evolution" by Brian & Deborah Charlesworth is available through the UofT Library ($12.00).
    • A laboratory manual ("Adaptation & Biodiversity") is also required ($11.05).
    • A lab coat is also a requirement.

    Course Location

    • The course website is available on Quercus at q.utoronto.ca with a dashboard.
    • Students can access lecture slides, videos, quizzes, assignments, test information, and discussion boards through Quercus.
    • Important announcements will be sent through Quercus notifications.
    • Optional weekly tutorials are offered by professors on alternating Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:10-5pm and 9:10-10am in Ramsay Wright room 432.
    • A lecture discussion forum is accessible on Quercus.
    • Lab office hours are held in Ramsay Wright room 105. The schedule is on Quercus.
    • Contact TAs or technicians for any assistance or additional support (missed labs, conflicting tests, or other issues). Students should email [email protected]

    Optional Activities

    • Students can participate in BIO120 social events (e.g., meet your classmates at a social event, learn about local birds and wildlife of Toronto).
    • Their schedule is posted on Quercus.

    Additional Information

    • The first week's lab exercises (P*01) begin on September 9-13 and Week 2's labs (P**02) begin on Sept 16-20.
    • The lab code is available on Quercus after 5pm on Monday, September 9th.
    • Email [email protected] with an ACORN timetable screenshot if not registered in ACORN for a lab.
    • The first class lecture notes will cover what evolutionary biology is, how it's studied, and why it's relevant.

    Readings

    • Charlesworth & Charlesworth "Evolution: A Very Short Introduction"
    • Prior knowledge of Mendelian genetics is expected

    Lecture 1 Outline

    • What is evolutionary biology?
    • How is evolution studied?
    • Why is evolution relevant?

    The Theory of Evolution

    • The central unifying concept in biology.
    • Influences many other areas of knowledge.
    • Tenets: Living things change over time; adaptations arise through natural selection; evolution challenges the view of special creation (direct creation of life forms in their current state).

    Important Conclusions About Evolution

    • Changes in organisms are gradual, not instantaneous.
    • Diversification of lineages through speciation leads to biodiversity.
    • All species share a common ancestor.
    • Adaptations result from natural selection.
    • Biodiversity and adaptations are products of evolution.

    Biodiversity and Adaptation

    • The diversity of life on Earth.
    • The number and types of organisms in an area.
    • Adaptations are traits that improve survival or reproduction in a given environment.

    Major Areas of Evolutionary Study

    • Evolutionary history (patterns).
    • Evolutionary mechanisms (processes).
    • Microevolution (within species).
    • Macroevolution (among species).

    Evolutionary History

    • Aims for determining evolutionary relationships in terms of common ancestry and grasping long-term patterns in evolution.
    • Uses comparative data from systematics, biogeography, paleontology, morphology, development, and molecular biology.
    • Includes depicting lineages using phylogenetic trees. This relates the evolutionary pathway back to a common ancestor in a graphical format.

    Evolutionary Mechanisms

    • Aims at elucidating the processes driving evolutionary changes, specifically natural selection.
    • Uses experimental and comparative studies of genetics and ecology within populations.

    How is Evolution Studied?

    • There are different approaches.
      • Observational studies.
      • Theoretical models (mathematical, verbal, computational)
      • Comparative methods
      • Experimental methods (needs a designed experiment to answer a particular hypothesis).

    Evolution of Self-Fertilization

    • Students are encouraged to explore specific case studies on self-fertilization.
    • Specific examples given in the slides.

    Why is Evolution Relevant?

    • Children's questions.
    • Medicine (e.g., COVID-19 evolution).
    • Agriculture (e.g., herbicide and insecticide resistance).
    • Environment (e.g., adaptability to climate change).
    • Biology (studying life on Earth conceptually)

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    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    BIO120 Fall 2024 Lecture 1 (PDF)
    Evolution: A Very Short Introduction PDF

    Description

    This quiz covers the principles and concepts of evolution and ecology as introduced in the BIO120 course. Students will explore key topics such as adaptation, biodiversity, and course materials. Ensure you familiarize yourself with the syllabus and required texts for optimal preparation.

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