Questions and Answers
What is the term for a group of similar organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring?
species
What scientist proposed that if an organism used a structure so much that it grew, the trait of that larger structure could be passed to its offspring?
Lamarck
What is a fossil?
a trace of an organism from the past
The theory Cuvier proposed, that landforms on Earth's surface, such as mountains, waterfalls, and canyons, were created as the result of sudden spectacular events is called the theory of?
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The difference in the physical traits of an individual from those of other individuals in a group is called?
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What is the process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors?
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Who developed a classification system for all types of organisms known at the time by similarity?
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What process involves humans changing a species by breeding it for certain traits?
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Which scientist argued that species shared ancestors instead of arising separately?
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What is the mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring on average than do other individuals?
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What is the study of the distribution of organisms around the world?
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Study Notes
Evolution and Theories of Change
- Evolution refers to the biological process where descendants differ from their ancestors.
- Carolus Linnaeus established a classification system by similarity for various organisms.
- A species is defined as a group of organisms capable of reproducing and producing fertile offspring.
Key Historical Figures
- Buffon suggested species share common ancestors and challenged the belief that Earth is only 6,000 years old.
- Charles Darwin theorized all living things evolved from a common ancestor, with complex life forms arising from simpler ones.
- Lamarck proposed organisms evolve towards greater complexity, with environmental changes prompting behavioral adaptations.
- Georges Cuvier, a zoologist, believed in extinction of species and recognized that each rock layer contained distinct fossils.
Concepts of Geological Change
- Fossils are remnants of ancient organisms.
- Catastrophism posits that Earth's history is marked by frequent natural disasters.
- James Hutton supported gradualism, the idea that landforms result from slow, ongoing processes.
- Uniformitarianism suggests that geologic processes shaping Earth are consistent over time.
Variation and Adaptation
- Variation refers to differences in traits among individuals in a group.
- Adaptation is a feature that enhances an organism's survival in its environment.
Selection Processes
- Artificial selection involves human-managed breeding for particular traits.
- Heritability is the capacity of a trait to be inherited across generations.
- Natural selection is a process where individuals with advantageous adaptations reproduce more successfully than others.
Populations and Fitness
- A population consists of all individuals of a species in a specific area.
- Fitness is a measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce compared to others in its environment.
Biogeography and Developmental Biology
- Biogeography studies the global distribution of organisms.
- Embryology examines the similarities between organisms during developmental stages.
Structural Relationships
- Homologous structures share a similar origin but have different functions across species (e.g., forelimbs of vertebrates).
- Analogous structures serve a similar purpose but arise from different evolutionary backgrounds (e.g., wings of bats and insects).
- Vestigial structures are remnants from ancestors that no longer serve a purpose.
Evolutionary Patterns
- Convergent evolution is the process where unrelated species develop similar traits (e.g., tail fins of fish and marine mammals).
- Divergent evolution occurs when closely related species evolve in different directions (e.g., red fox and kit fox).
- Coevolution involves mutual evolutionary changes in two or more species.
- Adaptive radiation refers to the diversification of an ancestral species into multiple descendant species.
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Description
Explore key concepts from Biology chapters 10 to 12 with this set of flashcards. Each card presents a term alongside its definition, covering essential topics like evolution, species classification, and notable figures in biology. Perfect for quick review and study!
