Biology Chapter 11: Evolution and Its Processes

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Questions and Answers

What type of fossil evidence shows intermediate anatomy between earlier and later forms of horses?

Ancestral fossils

Transitional sequences

Exponential fossils

Transitional fossils (correct)

Which genus is known as the first horse-like species identified in the fossil record?

Eohippus (correct)

Hipparion

Equus

Mesohippus

What significant environmental change influenced the evolution of horse anatomy?

Expansion of aquatic habitats

Cooling climate patterns

Increased forest density

Drying trends of the landscape (correct)

Which of the following species is noted for demonstrating gains in size during the evolutionary history of horses?

Hipparion Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the idea that different species share a common ancestor based on structural similarities?

Morphological traits Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is NOT part of the shared basic form among the appendages of different species?

Clavicle Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon is reflected in the fossil record regarding the horse lineage?

Adaptive radiation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following modern species is considered a representation of the existing horse lineage?

Przewalski's horse Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the theory of evolution in biology?

It provides a framework for understanding the diversity of life. Signup and view all the answers

How does evolution impact the perception of species over generations?

Living organisms continuously evolve from one another. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes ongoing evolution?

Evolution is an active and continual process. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'common ancestor' in the context of evolution?

An organism that is the direct predecessor of all current species. Signup and view all the answers

Who is quoted as emphasizing the importance of evolution in understanding biology?

Theodosius Dobzhansky Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of evolutionary change?

Artificial manipulation Signup and view all the answers

How can evolution provide direction for biological predictions?

By framing hypotheses based on shared ancestry. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'diversity of life' refer to in an evolutionary context?

The variety of current living organisms resulting from evolutionary change. Signup and view all the answers

How did Darwin's view of evolution compare to previous beliefs about species?

Darwin proposed that species change over time through natural selection. Signup and view all the answers

What was the key contribution of James Hutton to the understanding of geological change?

He argued that geological change occurs gradually over long periods. Signup and view all the answers

What do differences in allele frequencies between two populations indicate?

Both populations may evolve due to migration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the Hardy-Weinberg principle in studying populations?

To provide a baseline expectation for allele frequencies in non-evolving populations. Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism for evolutionary change was proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck?

Inheritance of acquired characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

How did Charles Lyell influence Darwin's thinking?

By arguing for gradual change in species analogous to geological change. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a mechanism of sexual selection?

Intrasexual competition between males. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common belief about species prior to Darwin's theory?

Species have existed in their present form since creation. Signup and view all the answers

What can happen when male traits are enhanced due to sexual selection?

They may become more appealing to predators. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes intersexual selection?

Selection based on a mate's characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Lamarck's theory was later discredited?

Inheritance of acquired characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What was the prevailing view of geological changes before Hutton's theory?

Geological changes are primarily caused by catastrophic events. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if allele frequencies deviate from Hardy-Weinberg expectations?

Some evolutionary force is acting on the population. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the evolution of evolutionary theory leading up to Darwin?

Early thinkers had conflicting views on species change and extinction. Signup and view all the answers

In what form can male-male competition manifest?

In displays of strength or ritualized conflict. Signup and view all the answers

How can sexual selection lead to the persistence of traits that seem maladaptive?

It enhances reproductive success despite survival disadvantages. Signup and view all the answers

What is divergent evolution?

The process where two species evolve in opposite directions from a common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

What are analogous structures?

Structures that have evolved independently in different species but serve similar functions. Signup and view all the answers

How do the wings of bats and insects differ from those of hummingbirds and ostriches?

Bats and insects evolved wings independently, while hummingbirds and ostriches share a common ancestor for their wings. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the lack of understanding of genetics a hindrance for Darwin and Wallace?

It hindered the comprehension of how natural selection might function. Signup and view all the answers

What type of evolution does a species exhibit if it adapts similar traits independently to serve similar functions?

Convergent evolution. Signup and view all the answers

How does the evolutionary lineage of the wings of a hummingbird differ from that of an ostrich?

They evolved from a common ancestor rather than developing independently. Signup and view all the answers

What hindered the explanation of natural selection before Mendel's work was recognized?

The existence of blending inheritance theory. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes the evolutionary relationship of flowering plants as mentioned?

They exhibit both divergent and convergent evolutionary traits. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium principle state about allele frequencies in a population?

Allele frequencies remain constant unless evolutionary forces act on the population. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered an evolutionary force that disrupts the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Chromosome segregation Signup and view all the answers

How does nonrandom mating affect Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

It only shifts genotype frequencies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of mutation on allele frequency in a population?

It creates new alleles and can increase their frequency gradually. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can cause random changes in allele frequencies, especially in small populations?

Genetic drift Signup and view all the answers

Why do some genetic diseases remain in the human population at very low frequencies?

There is a balance between mutation rates and natural selection. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between allele frequencies and genotype frequencies?

Changes in allele frequencies can influence genotype frequencies. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which of the following correctly describes the role of dominant alleles?

They do not influence the equilibrium directly. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 11: Evolution and Its Processes

Evolution is a continuous process, still occurring today
Earth's biodiversity is a result of evolution
All life on Earth evolved from a common ancestor
Evolutionary processes are ongoing
The characteristics of species change through time
New species arise through evolutionary change

11.1 Discovering How Populations Change

Darwin's theory of evolution differed from the contemporary view of static species
Modern evolutionary theory was developed through combining Darwin's ideas with genetic concepts
Population genetics is used to study how allele frequencies change within populations

Mechanisms of Evolution

Natural selection is a mechanism for evolutionary change
- Traits are inherited
- More offspring are produced than can survive
- The offspring vary genetically
Mutation introduces genetic variation (new alleles)
Genetic drift is random change in allele frequencies, more noticeable in smaller populations
Gene flow (migration) also changes allele frequencies within populations

11.3 Evidence of Evolution

Fossils provide evidence of past life and evolutionary change
Homologous structures share a common origin (different functions)
Vestigial structures are remnants of structures with ancestral functions (no current function)
Embryological similarities suggest common ancestry
Darwin's observations of the Galapagos finches (different beak shapes adapted to different food sources) provided critical support for natural selection

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Description

Explore the intricate processes of evolution in Chapter 11. This chapter discusses Darwin's theory, the role of natural selection, and how populations change over time. Gain insights into the mechanisms that drive species evolution and contribute to Earth's biodiversity.