Biol 1M03 W25: Evolution Framework Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What term did Van Leeuwenhoek use to describe the creatures he observed through his microscope?

  • Infusoria
  • Microscopic organisms
  • Animalcules (correct)
  • Microspecies

What is the approximate size range of the smallest known cells?

  • 0.5–1 nm
  • 200 nm (correct)
  • 5–100 μm
  • 1–10 μm

Which of the following organisms is identified as the largest individual organism?

  • Blue whale
  • Armillaria ostoyae (correct)
  • Great barrier reef
  • Sequoia tree

How many Mycoplasma gallisepticum cells can fit side-by-side within one millimeter?

<p>5,000 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis is not mentioned in relation to the origin of cells?

<p>Cellular evolution (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What disease does Mycoplasma gallisepticum cause?

<p>Disease in chickens (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct representation of the size of Armillaria ostoyae compared to McMaster’s campus?

<p>About 9.5 times larger (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'cells' refer to in the context of living organisms?

<p>The smallest units that can live independently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Darwin and Wallace claim regarding species?

<p>All species are related by common ancestry. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for species changing over time?

<p>Microevolution (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines evolution?

<p>Change in the characteristics of a population over time. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a necessary condition for natural selection to occur?

<p>Individuals must vary in heritable traits. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes falls under nonadaptive evolution?

<p>Mutation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does macroevolution involve?

<p>Species splitting and diverging. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of adaptive evolution?

<p>Differences in inherited traits leading to better survival. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Darwin challenge the belief about species?

<p>By presenting evidence supporting species change. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of spines in organisms such as those found in Lake B?

<p>Defending against predators (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes evolution?

<p>It is a process that explains why species change over time. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, why is it important to include control groups?

<p>To identify other factors that might influence the outcome (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key aspect of a well-designed experiment?

<p>Controlling experimental conditions (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'null hypothesis' refer to in the context of scientific inquiry?

<p>A statement that there is no effect or no difference (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do biologists play in the scientific inquiry process?

<p>They formulate hypotheses and seek evidence that may support or refute them. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an adaptation in biological terms?

<p>A trait that improves an organism's chance of survival in its environment (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis format is recommended for testing the effects of a factor on an outcome?

<p>X influences Y (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for a trait to become more common in a population over time?

<p>The trait must increase the individual's success in reproduction. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fitness' refer to in the context of evolution?

<p>The ability of an individual to produce offspring. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an adaptation?

<p>A heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual in a specific environment. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the example of Galápagos finches, what environmental change led to a shift in beak size?

<p>Consistent rainfall resulting in an abundance of small soft seeds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the relationship between natural selection and evolutionary change?

<p>Natural selection acts on individuals, leading to evolutionary change in populations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did researchers observe about finches with small, pointed beaks after a change in seed abundance?

<p>Their numbers increased in the population over time. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a condition for speciation to occur?

<p>Populations must diverge from each other. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is heritability important in the context of natural selection?

<p>It allows traits that increase fitness to be passed to future generations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes what a hypothesis is?

<p>A testable statement that explains an observation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential aspect of a prediction related to a hypothesis?

<p>It may imply a direction of relationship (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly differentiates a hypothesis from a prediction?

<p>A hypothesis is a testable statement, while a prediction indicates observable results. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements aligns with the concept of spontaneous generation?

<p>Living organisms can emerge from nonliving materials. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental concept does cell theory assert?

<p>All living organisms are made of cells, which arise from existing cells. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was Louis Pasteur's main hypothesis regarding cells?

<p>Cells arise from cells and not from spontaneous generation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How might Pasteur's hypothesis, that cells arise from cells, be rephrased as a requirement?

<p>Cells are required for the existence of new cells. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which outcome would falsify Pasteur’s hypothesis regarding cell formation?

<p>Importantly discovering a nonliving process to create living cells. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics is NOT fundamental to all living organisms?

<p>All organisms can photosynthesize. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two components of the cell theory?

<p>All living organisms are made of cells and cells are the basic unit of life. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the theory of natural selection?

<p>Natural selection requires variation among individuals and differential survival and reproduction. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental aspect of life do viruses fail to exhibit?

<p>Cellular structure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a necessary condition for natural selection to occur?

<p>There must be variation in traits among individuals. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The component of life that describes how organisms capture and use genetic information from their environment is referred to as:

<p>Processing information. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding evolutionary change in populations?

<p>Evolution may happen through mechanisms including natural selection and genetic drift. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a population to evolve?

<p>Changes in genetic traits in a population over time. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is the cellular characteristic of life?

All living organisms are composed of cells, which are the smallest unit of life.

What is the information processing characteristic of life?

Living organisms process information from their environment and use it to adapt and survive.

What is the evolving characteristic of life?

Populations of organisms change over time, adapting to their environment.

What is the first part of the cell theory?

All living organisms are made up of cells.

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What is the second part of the cell theory?

All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

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What is the chromosome theory of inheritance?

Genes are located on chromosomes, which are passed down from parents to offspring.

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What is natural selection?

Organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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What are the two necessary conditions for natural selection to cause evolution?

Variation in traits within a population and inheritance of those traits.

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Animalcule

A microscopic organism, often single-celled, first observed by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century.

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Cell

The fundamental building block of all living organisms, ranging in size from a few hundred nanometers to over 2,000 acres in some cases.

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Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an observation or phenomenon, used in science for investigation.

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Mycoplasma gallisepticum

The smallest known bacterium, a disease-causing microorganism in birds and other animals.

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Armillaria ostoyae

A massive fungal organism, often found in forests, spreading underground over a vast area.

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Cell division

The process by which new cells are created from existing ones.

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Cell biology

The process of studying cells and their components, including their structure, function, and behavior.

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Cell theory

The theory that all living organisms are made up of cells, and that all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

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What is a hypothesis?

A testable statement that explains an observation. It is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, a starting point for investigation.

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What's a prediction?

A measurable or observable result that should be true if a hypothesis is valid. It's a prediction of what you expect to see in an experiment.

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What was the spontaneous generation theory?

The idea that living organisms could arise spontaneously from non-living matter. It was a dominant theory until the mid-1800s.

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What is the cell theory?

The theory that all living organisms are composed of cells and that all cells come from pre-existing cells.

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What is the explanatory/independent variable in a hypothesis?

The independent variable in an experiment, the factor being manipulated to see its effect.

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What is the response/dependent variable in a hypothesis?

The dependent variable in a hypothesis, the outcome being measured or observed.

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Does a hypothesis imply direction?

In a hypothesis, the explanatory/independent variable is affecting or impacting the response/dependent variable, but it doesn't specify the direction of the effect. It's a general statement.

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Does a prediction imply direction?

In a prediction, the explanatory/independent variable is causing a specific increase or decrease in the response/dependent variable. It implies a direction.

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Evolution

A change in the characteristics of a population over time.

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Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

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Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Variation in Heritable Traits

Individuals in a population must have variation in traits that can be passed on to their offspring.

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How evolution occurs

Species are related to one another and can change through time.

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Nonadaptive Evolution

Changes in a population's genetic makeup due to random events.

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Adaptation

Heritable traits that increase an individual's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.

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Fitness

The ability of an individual to produce surviving offspring.

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Common Ancestry

Species are related by common ancestry

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Descent with Modification

Characteristics of species can be modified from generation to generation.

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Speciation

The process where populations diverge to form new species, often due to isolation and genetic changes.

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What are the two conditions for natural selection?

The variation in traits within a population and the inheritance of those traits.

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What is an adaptation?

A heritable trait that helps an individual survive and reproduce.

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What is fitness?

The measure of an individual's reproductive success.

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What is a control group?

A group in an experiment that serves as a baseline for comparison. It doesn't receive the treatment or change being tested and helps isolate the effect of the variable in question.

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What is the independent variable?

The factor that is being manipulated or changed in an experiment. It's the cause or potential cause of the observed effect.

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What is the dependent variable?

The factor that is being measured or observed in an experiment. It's the effect or potential effect of the independent variable.

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What are replicates/repeats in an experiment?

The process of repeating an experiment multiple times with different samples to reduce the impact of chance variation. It increases the reliability and validity of the results.

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What is evolution?

The process by which organisms change over time, driven by natural selection and adaptation. It's a key principle in biology and explains the diversity of life on Earth.

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What is a theory?

A well-tested scientific explanation that accounts for a large body of observations and phenomena. It's a highly reliable and supported explanation for why things are the way they are in the natural world.

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Study Notes

Course Information

  • Course: Biol 1M03 W25
  • Topic: Biodiversity, Evolution, and Humanity
  • Dates: Jan 7th, 2024
  • Content: Evolution, a framework for understanding life
  • Key areas covered in Week 1: Sections 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4 of "How Life Works"

What it Means to be Alive

  • Living things share fundamental characteristics
  • Three key unifying concepts in Biology:
    • Life is Cellular (organisms are made of membrane-bound cells)
    • Life processes information (all organisms process hereditary information)
    • Life evolves (populations of organisms constantly evolve)

Learning Objectives

  • Name three fundamental characteristics of life.
  • Describe the two components of cell theory.
  • Explain the chromosome theory of inheritance.
  • Briefly explain the theory of natural selection, and its necessary/sufficient conditions.
  • Describe what biologists do, including their approach to problems and use of experiments.

Theories that Form the Framework for Modern Biology

  • Cell theory: what are organisms composed of?
  • Chromosome theory of inheritance: how is hereditary information transmitted to the next generation?
  • Theory of evolution by natural selection: where do organisms come from?

Life is Cellular

  • Robert Hooke and Anton van Leeuwenhoek observed cells in the late 1660s
  • A cell is a highly organized compartment:
    • Bounded by a plasma membrane
    • Contains concentrated chemicals in an aqueous solution
  • Size variation:
    • Smallest: ~200nm (e.g., Mycoplasma gallisepticum)
    • Largest: ~2384 acres (e.g., Armillaria ostoyae)

Where Do Cells Come From?

  • Two competing hypotheses:

    • Spontaneous Generation (prevalent until mid-1800s): organisms arise spontaneously under certain conditions
    • Cell Theory: all organisms are made of cells and all cells come from pre-existing cells

  • Louis Pasteur's hypothesis/experimentation: Cells arise from cells; cells do not arise by spontaneous generation

  • A hypothesis is a testable statement that explains something observed. A experiment tests the effect of a factor on a phenomenon.

What is a Hypothesis?

  • A testable statement that explains an observation.
  • Allows researchers to test the effect of a factor on a phenomenon.
  • Predictions are measurable or observable results that must be correct if a hypothesis is valid.

Important Distinction Between Hypothesis and Prediction

  • Hypothesis: X (explanatory/independent variable) affects/impacts Y (response/dependent variable), does NOT imply direction.
  • Prediction: X (explanatory/independent variable) increases/decreases Y (response/dependent variable), implies direction.

The Chromosome Theory of Inheritance

  • Proposed by Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri in 1902
  • Hereditary information is encoded in genes.
  • Genes are located on chromosomes.
  • DNA is the hereditary material (1950s).
  • Genes are segments of DNA that code for cell products.

Structure of DNA

  • Double helix with four building blocks: A, T, C, and G
  • Sequence of these blocks carries information for growth and reproduction.
  • A pairs with T; C pairs with G in the double helix structure

The Central Dogma

  • Genes in DNA code for information necessary to produce proteins.
  • DNA is transcribed into RNA.
  • RNA is translated into proteins.

How Does Evolution Occur?

  • Adaptive (aka Selection): Chapter 20.4
  • Nonadaptive (genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, non-random mating): Chapter 20.5

Natural Selection

  • Darwin, along with Wallace, proposed the theory of natural selection
  • Two main conditions for natural selection to occur:
    • Individuals must vary in traits that are heritable
    • In a particular environment, versions of heritable traits that help individuals reproduce more than others
  • Evolution is a change in the characteristics of a population over time

Fitness and Adaptation

  • Fitness: The ability of an individual to produce offspring, individuals with high fitness produce many surviving offspring
  • Adaptation: A heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual in a particular environment, it becomes more common over time

Example of Natural Selection

  • Finches on Galápagos Islands:
    • Variation in beak size and shape
    • Consistent rainfall resulted in an abundance of small, soft seeds
    • Proportion of finches with small, pointed beaks increased.
  • Daphnia spp. example: Presence of predators lead development of spines as an adaptation.

Additional Topics

  • Review: Life emerges from cells, the Central Dogma, and Natural Selection
  • Doing Biology: Scientific inquiry, hypotheses, experiments and their designs
  • Activity: Angler fish traits, adaptive traits, hypothesis formulation, experimental design

FAQs

  • Textbook Reading: For some people, reading ahead of lectures can be helpful; others prefer reading after a lecture to reinforce their understanding
  • Testable Material: Use the lecture material as your guide for what is testable. If the information is in the lecture, it is testable. Textbook material not in a lecture is not testable.

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Biol 1M03 W25: Biodiversity, Evolution, and Humanity PDF

Description

Test your understanding of the fundamental characteristics of life covered in Biol 1M03, focusing on evolution and its significance in biology. This quiz examines key concepts such as cell theory, inheritance, and natural selection. Engage with the foundational theories that drive modern biological studies.

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