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Questions and Answers
What is a derived characteristic?
What is a derived characteristic?
A trait that arose in the most recent common ancestor and passed on the lineage.
What is an example of a derived characteristic?
What is an example of a derived characteristic?
Having four limbs is a derived characteristic for tetrapods, but not for mammals.
What does a cladogram of chordates present?
What does a cladogram of chordates present?
Current hypotheses about evolutionary relationships among chordate groups.
Define adaptation.
Define adaptation.
Organisms differ from place to place because...
Organisms differ from place to place because...
Define natural selection.
Define natural selection.
How do certain forms of a trait become more common in a population?
How do certain forms of a trait become more common in a population?
Inherited characteristics in a population change due to...
Inherited characteristics in a population change due to...
Define evolution.
Define evolution.
Over enough time, or in isolation speciation may occur when enough...
Over enough time, or in isolation speciation may occur when enough...
Define isolation.
Define isolation.
Why do two populations become different over time?
Why do two populations become different over time?
Species can...
Species can...
Define speciation.
Define speciation.
What did Charles Darwin recognize about the species on the Galapagos Islands?
What did Charles Darwin recognize about the species on the Galapagos Islands?
How did Darwin define evolution?
How did Darwin define evolution?
What did Darwin theorize about the ancestors of Galapagos species?
What did Darwin theorize about the ancestors of Galapagos species?
What is the first mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the first mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the second mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the second mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the third mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the third mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the fourth mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
What is the fourth mechanism that allows evolution to happen?
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Study Notes
Derived Characteristics
- Derived characteristics are traits that originated in the most recent common ancestor and are inherited by descendants.
- An example includes four limbs in tetrapods, which distinguishes them from other groups like mammals.
Cladograms and Evolutionary Relationships
- A cladogram of chordates illustrates current hypotheses on the evolutionary relationships among different chordate groups.
Adaptation
- Adaptation refers to characteristics that enhance an organism's survival in its environment.
- Organisms display differences across locations due to varying environmental challenges.
Natural Selection
- Natural selection describes the process where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
- This results in increased frequency of favorable gene forms in a population over time.
Evolutionary Change
- Evolution is defined as the gradual change in a population over time.
- Environmental pressures can lead to changes in inherited characteristics within a population.
Speciation
- Speciation occurs when enough genetic differences develop between populations, rendering individuals incompatible for reproduction.
- Isolation refers to scenarios where two populations of the same species cannot interbreed due to geographical separation.
Population Divergence
- Over time, two populations of the same species can evolve differences as specific traits become more pronounced.
Survival and Reproduction
- Species are characterized by their ability to successfully reproduce within their populations.
Charles Darwin's Observations
- Charles Darwin noted that species on the Galápagos Islands shared similarities with species from the South American coast.
- He defined evolution as "descent with modification" and theorized that ancestral species migrated from the coast and adapted to new environments.
Mechanisms of Evolution
- Variation within the genes of every population is the initial mechanism facilitating evolution.
- Survival of the fittest is the second mechanism, where some individuals are more fit for survival and reproduction.
- Over time, traits that enhance survival and reproduction are propagated throughout populations.
- Fossils serve as evidence that modern species have evolved from extinct organisms, supporting evolutionary theory.
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