Questions and Answers
What is the primary mechanism by which adaptation occurs in a population?
Which of the following is an example of a selection pressure?
What is the term for the study of the structure and development of living organisms?
What is the term for the movement of genes from one population to another?
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What is the process by which a new species emerges from an existing one?
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What is the study of large-scale evolutionary changes, such as the origin of new body plans or the emergence of new phyla?
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What is the term for the random events that change the frequency of a gene or genetic trait in a population?
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What is the study of the geographic distribution of living organisms?
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Study Notes
Definition and Overview
- Evolution: the scientifically supported theory that all species of life have developed from a common ancestor through the process of natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow
- Describes the change in the inherited characteristics of a population of organisms over time
Key Principles
- Descent with modification: all living organisms share a common ancestor and have evolved over time through the accumulation of genetic changes
- Variation: all individuals within a population exhibit genetic variation, which provides the raw material for evolution
- Heritability: the characteristics of an individual are determined by their genetic makeup, which is passed on to their offspring
- Adaptation: the process by which a population becomes better suited to its environment, leading to increased survival and reproductive success
Mechanisms of Evolution
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Natural Selection:
- Differential reproduction: individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing their traits to their offspring
- Selection pressures: environmental factors that affect an individual's ability to survive and reproduce
- Genetic Drift: random events that change the frequency of a gene or genetic trait in a population
- Mutation: changes in the DNA sequence of an individual, which can result in new traits or changes to existing traits
- Gene Flow: the movement of genes from one population to another, leading to changes in the gene pool
Evidence for Evolution
- Fossil Record: the chronological record of the history of life on Earth, which shows a clear pattern of gradual changes in life forms over time
- Comparative Anatomy: the study of the structure and development of living organisms, which reveals similarities and homologies between different species
- Molecular Biology: the study of DNA and protein sequences, which shows significant similarities between different species
- Biogeography: the study of the geographic distribution of living organisms, which shows a pattern of related species being found in the same or nearby locations
Evolutionary Processes
- Speciation: the process by which a new species emerges from an existing one
- Co-evolution: the process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other
- Macroevolution: the study of large-scale evolutionary changes, such as the origin of new body plans or the emergence of new phyla
- Microevolution: the study of small-scale evolutionary changes, such as changes within a population or species
Definition and Overview
- Evolution is the scientifically supported theory that all species of life developed from a common ancestor through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
- Evolution describes the change in inherited characteristics of a population of organisms over time.
Key Principles
- Descent with modification: all living organisms share a common ancestor and have evolved over time through genetic changes.
- Variation: all individuals within a population exhibit genetic variation, providing the raw material for evolution.
- Heritability: characteristics of an individual are determined by their genetic makeup, passed on to their offspring.
- Adaptation: the process by which a population becomes better suited to its environment, leading to increased survival and reproductive success.
Mechanisms of Evolution
- Natural Selection:
- Differential reproduction: individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
- Selection pressures: environmental factors affecting an individual's ability to survive and reproduce.
- Genetic Drift: random events changing the frequency of a gene or genetic trait in a population.
- Mutation: changes in an individual's DNA sequence, resulting in new traits or changes to existing traits.
- Gene Flow: the movement of genes from one population to another, leading to changes in the gene pool.
Evidence for Evolution
- Fossil Record: a chronological record of life on Earth, showing gradual changes in life forms over time.
- Comparative Anatomy: similarities and homologies between different species reveal their evolutionary relationships.
- Molecular Biology: DNA and protein sequences show significant similarities between different species.
- Biogeography: the geographic distribution of living organisms reveals patterns of related species in the same or nearby locations.
Evolutionary Processes
- Speciation: the process by which a new species emerges from an existing one.
- Co-evolution: the process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other.
- Macroevolution: the study of large-scale evolutionary changes, such as the origin of new body plans or emergence of new phyla.
- Microevolution: the study of small-scale evolutionary changes, such as changes within a population or species.
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Description
Explore the fundamental principles of evolution, including descent with modification, variation, and the change in inherited characteristics of a population over time.