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Questions and Answers
Which of these is NOT a reason that biological molecules can reflect shared evolutionary ancestry?
Which of these is NOT a reason that biological molecules can reflect shared evolutionary ancestry?
What is the term for the process when two distantly related species evolve similar features due to living in similar environments?
What is the term for the process when two distantly related species evolve similar features due to living in similar environments?
Which of the following is an example of a homologous structure?
Which of the following is an example of a homologous structure?
What do we call physical features that were once useful but are now remnants of ancestral features?
What do we call physical features that were once useful but are now remnants of ancestral features?
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Comparing which of the following can help scientists to figure out how species are related?
Comparing which of the following can help scientists to figure out how species are related?
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Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
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What is the term for the similarity between two species that is due to shared ancestry?
What is the term for the similarity between two species that is due to shared ancestry?
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What is the primary mechanism driving the changes in heritable traits over generations, as described in the content?
What is the primary mechanism driving the changes in heritable traits over generations, as described in the content?
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Which of the following is NOT a type of mutation based on its effect on an organism?
Which of the following is NOT a type of mutation based on its effect on an organism?
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Which scenario exemplifies the bottleneck effect?
Which scenario exemplifies the bottleneck effect?
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What is the difference between macroevolution and microevolution?
What is the difference between macroevolution and microevolution?
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Why is the study of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pesticide-resistant insects crucial to understanding evolution?
Why is the study of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pesticide-resistant insects crucial to understanding evolution?
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How does gene flow contribute to evolutionary change in a population?
How does gene flow contribute to evolutionary change in a population?
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Which statement best describes the relationship between evolution and genetic diversity?
Which statement best describes the relationship between evolution and genetic diversity?
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Which of the following is NOT an example of macroevolution?
Which of the following is NOT an example of macroevolution?
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What is the primary reason that humans and chimpanzees have very similar insulin proteins?
What is the primary reason that humans and chimpanzees have very similar insulin proteins?
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Why are the insulin proteins of humans and chickens less similar than those of humans and chimpanzees?
Why are the insulin proteins of humans and chickens less similar than those of humans and chimpanzees?
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What is biogeography primarily concerned with?
What is biogeography primarily concerned with?
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What is the significance of the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea in terms of biogeography?
What is the significance of the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea in terms of biogeography?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of fossils?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of fossils?
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What is the significance of the study of fossils in understanding evolution?
What is the significance of the study of fossils in understanding evolution?
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What is the primary advantage of organisms that can adapt to changing environments?
What is the primary advantage of organisms that can adapt to changing environments?
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How do the concepts of evolution and biogeography intersect?
How do the concepts of evolution and biogeography intersect?
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Study Notes
Evolution - A Grand Unifying Theory of Life
- Evolution is the change in heritable traits of biological populations over generations
- Evolution emphasizes the relatedness of all life, rather than its differences
- The guide question is: Why are there so many similarities in different types of organisms?
- One theory proposes a common ancestor that changed gradually to adapt to different environments
Evidence for Evolution
- Direct Observation: Small-scale evolution can be observed in organisms with short lifecycles, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pesticide-resistant insects.
- Homologous Features: Shared physical features (like bone structure or body plan) in different species indicate a common ancestor. Forelimbs of whales, humans, birds, and dogs are an example.
- Embryology: Vertebrate embryos have similar features early in development, such as gill slits and a tail.
- Vestigial Structures: Structures that are no longer useful function in an organism but are remnants of ancestral features, like the vestigial pelvic bone in whales or the appendix in humans.
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Analogous Features: Similar physical features that evolved independently in different organisms due to similar environments or selective pressures, exemplifying convergent evolution
- An example is the arctic fox and the ptarmigan (bird), both with white coloration for camouflage in the Arctic.
- Molecular Biology: Similarities in molecules like DNA, genetic codes, gene expression processes, and amino acids suggest a shared ancestry among all living organisms.
- Homologous Genes: Genes in different species with similar sequences (often called homologous or orthologous genes) reflect shared ancestry. Humans and chimpanzees possess similar insulin genes.
- Biogeography: The geographic distribution of organisms is influenced by evolutionary history and continental drift (movement of tectonic plates over geological time). Shared ancestry often results in unique organisms being found in those regions. Isolated islands support unique species due to geographic isolation and evolution.
- Fossil Records: Fossils document extinct organisms and their relationships to current species; fossils are remains of organisms found in rocks, tar pits, frozen in ice or trapped in amber. Layers of rocks called strata record the evolutionary history of organisms over time. Radiometric dating (e.g., using Carbon-14) helps estimate the fossil's age.
Mechanisms of Evolution
- Natural Selection: Organisms better suited for their environments are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to their offspring.
- DNA Mutation: Changes in the DNA sequence of an organism can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial, creating variation.
- Gene Flow/Gene Migration: Genes move between populations, altering the gene pool of the receiving population.
- Genetic Drift: Random changes in allele frequencies within populations, especially prominent in small populations. Bottleneck effects in a population can result from a drastic reduction in the population size. This effect significantly alters the gene pool.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of evolution and its evidence, including direct observation, homologous features, embryology, and vestigial structures. This quiz delves into how these concepts support the idea of a common ancestor shared by different species. Test your understanding of the fundamental principles of evolution.
