Questions and Answers
Which term describes a trait that increases an individual's ability to survive in a particular environment?
Adaptation
What is the meaning of Darwin's expression 'descent with modification'?
Descent with modification refers to evolutionary change over time.
How does natural selection act on beak length in soapberry bug populations?
The action of natural selection on beak length in soapberry bug populations varies with the environment.
What happened in the soapberry bug population in central Florida when the bugs began to feed on smaller goldenrain tree fruits?
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Identify the pair of homologous structures.
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Which statement is most likely to be helpful in correcting a student's misconception about giraffes?
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A challenge to traditional ideas about species came from embryology, when it was discovered that __________.
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What should happen to Staphylococcus aureus in environments from which antibiotics are missing?
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Identify the four postulates of natural selection.
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Which statement is an accurate combination of postulates 1 and 2 of natural selection?
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Which statement is an accurate combination of postulates 3 and 4 of natural selection?
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Does the ability of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell to infect a new host depend on its drug-resistant phenotype?
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Which statements describe the evolution by natural selection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in their new environment?
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Which conditions are necessary for evolution of resistance to the toxic protein to occur in the corn borer?
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It would be difficult to assess whether the drug-susceptible or drug-resistant phenotype in a population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was more fit in an environment without antibiotics.
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Which statement about natural selection is true?
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The wing of a bat is homologous to the _____ of a whale.
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Which of the following organisms could be produced by artificial selection?
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Which pair of chickens should a farmer breed to produce larger chickens?
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Which of the following crosses would produce the highest corn yield with the highest resistance to drought?
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Which of the following is(are) homologous to the bones in the image?
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Study Notes
Natural Selection and Adaptation
- A trait that enhances survival in a specific environment is termed an adaptation.
- Natural selection can lead to evolutionary changes, encapsulated in the concept of descent with modification.
- The average beak length of soapberry bugs in Florida is shorter due to feeding on smaller goldenrain tree fruits, demonstrating the role of environmental factors in natural selection.
Soapberry Bug Case Study
- Soapberry bugs with shorter beaks outcompete those with longer beaks when feeding on goldenrain tree fruits, resulting in more offspring for the shorter-beaked individuals.
- This exemplifies how natural selection acts on beak length based on food availability.
Understanding Homologous Structures
- Homologous structures indicate evolutionary relationships; examples include maple and oak leaves, as well as the whale's flipper and bat's wing.
Misconceptions in Evolution
- Characteristics acquired during an individual's lifetime are generally not inheritable, contradicting the idea that giraffes stretch their necks for food and pass this trait to offspring.
- Embryological studies show that embryos of different species, like sharks and humans, share resemblances, challenging pre-1860 species concepts.
Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- In the absence of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus may be outcompeted by non-resistant strains.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria evolve drug resistance as an adaptation when in environments with antibiotics.
Postulates of Natural Selection
- Four postulates of natural selection include heritable trait variation, variability in survival and reproduction, trait variance among individuals, and differential survival and reproductive success of individuals with advantageous traits.
- Successful reproduction among individuals favors traits that ensure higher survival rates.
Genetic Engineering and Artificial Selection
- About half of the U.S. corn crop is genetically engineered for pest resistance. Heritable variation in pests is necessary for evolutionary adaptation to these crops.
- Artificial selection yields make larger chickens by breeding large individuals for desirable traits, such as milk production in cows.
Drought Resistance in Crops
- A farmer aiming for high-yield, drought-resistant corn should cross high-yielding individual A with individual E for optimal outcomes based on their attributes.
Comparative Anatomy
- The bones of different species can be homologous; for example, a cat's paw may be homologous to a whale's fin, as they share a common evolutionary ancestor.
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Test your knowledge of key concepts from Chapter 19 in biology with these flashcards. Explore important evolutionary terms and theories, including adaptations and Darwin's principles. Perfect for mastering the material and preparing for exams.