Evolution and Natural Selection Overview

They are characterized by their ability to shed an exoskeleton through a process called molting.

Whales act as 'ecosystem engineers' by transporting nutrients from the deep sea to the surface, which stimulates phytoplankton growth.

Higher level taxonomic diversity means that the loss of a single species can lead to the disappearance of entire taxonomic groups.

<p>True.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect benefits that ecosystems provide to humans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Batesian mimicry occurs when a harmless species evolves to imitate the appearance of a harmful species to avoid predation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Müllerian mimicry involves two or more unpalatable or toxic species that resemble each other, reinforcing their avoidance by predators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Amish population descended from a small group of German immigrants, leading to limited genetic variation and a higher frequency of certain inherited disorders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Laron syndrome, a form of dwarfism caused by a genetic mutation, is found among these populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Asexual reproduction is more advantageous in a stable environment with no competitors or predators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Benefits of asexual reproduction include faster population growth and the energy savings from not needing to find a mate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ellis-van Creveld syndrome involves short stature, polydactyly, and dental and heart abnormalities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Isolation limits genetic mixing, leading to a higher prevalence of certain traits or disorders due to the small initial gene pool.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Archaea are ancient prokaryotes that share characteristics with both bacteria and eukaryotes, such as having histones and introns, while lacking a nucleus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The life cycle includes sexual reproduction in the mosquito host and multiple asexual reproduction stages in the vertebrate host, culminating in the explosion of red blood cells to release progeny.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fungi have cell walls made of chitin and are heterotrophic, digesting food extracellularly and absorbing it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Certain human diseases, such as malaria and candidiasis, are caused by eukaryotic organisms like protists and fungi.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Fungi serve various ecological roles, including decomposers, parasites, mutualists, and commensals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Phylogenetic studies show that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>All land plants utilize chlorophyll a and b for photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A molecular clock is a figurative tool used to measure evolutionary time by estimating the rate of neutral mutations in DNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Organisms that diverged recently have fewer nucleotide differences, while those that diverged long ago have many more.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural selection is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Stabilizing selection favors individuals with average or moderate traits, enhancing their chances of survival and reproduction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Diversifying selection favors multiple extreme phenotypes within a population, promoting genetic diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural selection is not perfection, progress, harmony in nature, or a justification for human actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural selection involves competition for resources, which can lead to both conflict and cooperation among organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Peppered moths are an example of natural selection, specifically directional selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity, making it harder for parasites or predators to adapt to a single host genotype.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vrijenhoek found that sexually reproducing Mexican Poeciliid fish survived parasites more successfully than asexually reproducing populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>LUCA stands for Last Universal Common Ancestor, and it represents the most recent common ancestor of all currently living organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No, LUCA was not the first life; there were likely many forms of life before or around the same time as LUCA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Molecular evidence suggests LUCA may have thrived in high-temperature environments as a thermophile.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>LUCA is thought to have used methanogenesis as one of the most ancient forms of metabolism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>LUCA is inferred to have had DNA as its primary genetic material, shared by all modern life forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Archaea are one of the three domains of life, characterized by their unique biochemical and genetic features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Bryophytes are non-vascular plants like liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, lacking specialized tissue for water transport, unlike seedless vascular plants which have vascular tissue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vascular tissue allows plants to efficiently transport water and nutrients, enabling them to grow taller; examples include seedless vascular plants like ferns and gymnosperms like conifers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gymnosperms produce naked seeds not enclosed in fruits, whereas angiosperms produce seeds enclosed within fruits and are the most diverse group of land plants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In protostomes, the first opening of the embryo becomes the mouth, while in deuterostomes, it becomes the anus, with the mouth forming later.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Examples of deuterostomes include fish and sea stars, while examples of protostomes include earthworms and clams.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main challenge is illegal logging, which reduces forest cover crucial for the butterflies' survival during winter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The group Ecdysozoa contains more than half of all animal species on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The decree did not take into consideration the local communities of Otomi and Mazahua people, who have historically used the land.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A figurative clock used to measure evolutionary time by tracking random, neutral DNA mutations that occur at a predictable rate.

Mutations in DNA not selected for or against by natural selection.

The process where better-adapted organisms are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on beneficial traits.

A type of natural selection favoring average/moderate traits, increasing survival.

Favors multiple extreme traits, increasing genetic diversity within a population.

The time elapsed since the divergence of two lineages, measured by molecular clock method.

Variations in the DNA sequences of two related organisms. These differences increase with time.

Natural selection does not guarantee perfection, progression, or harmony in nature.

A harmless species evolves to resemble a harmful species, gaining protection from predators.

Two or more harmful species evolve to resemble each other. Both are unpalatable or toxic.

A small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to a skewed genetic makeup compared to the original.

A closed community, marrying primarily within the group, leading to increased genetic disorders.

A genetic disorder causing short stature, extra fingers/toes, and potential heart defects.

Faster population growth in stable environments without mate searching.

A form of dwarfism caused by a genetic mutation affecting growth hormone receptors.

A population showing high rates of Laron syndrome, possibly due to a founder effect, and simultaneously exhibiting low cancer/diabetes rates.

A diverse group of animals characterized by their ability to shed their exoskeletons (molting) as they grow.

Organisms that significantly alter their environment, often benefiting other species.

The diversity of major branches on the tree of life, represented by entire families, orders, or classes of organisms.

An ancient group of amniotes that gave rise to mammals.

An ancient group of amniotes that gave rise to lizards, snakes, and birds.

The idea that organisms must constantly evolve to stay ahead of their competitors and predators, like the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland who had to run as fast as she could just to stay in the same place.

Last Universal Common Ancestor - the most recent ancestor of all currently living organisms.

Molecular evidence suggests LUCA may have been a thermophile, living in high-temperature environments, and possibly a methanogen, thriving in anaerobic environments, and producing methane.

One of the three domains of life, alongside Bacteria and Eukarya. Archaea are often extremophiles, thriving in harsh environments like hot springs and salt lakes.

A metabolic process where microorganisms produce methane as a by-product. One of the oldest known metabolisms.

DNA serves as the primary genetic material for all life forms, including LUCA.

LUCA was not the first lifeform, but the ancestor of all living things today.

A diverse group of eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi. They can be single-celled or multicellular, and include organisms like algae, amoebas, and slime molds.

A parasitic disease caused by the protist Plasmodium falciparum, transmitted by mosquitoes. It affects red blood cells and can be fatal.

A parasitic disease caused by the protist Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by the tsetse fly. It affects the central nervous system and is fatal if untreated.

A fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida albicans, commonly known as thrush. It can affect the mouth, throat, and other areas.

A kingdom of eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic (obtain nutrients from other organisms) and typically have cell walls made of chitin.

A tough, structural carbohydrate found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of insects.

A single-celled fungus that reproduces by budding.

A group of non-vascular plants that lack specialized tissue for water transport. They typically grow in damp environments and reproduce using spores. Examples include liverworts, mosses, and hornworts.

Plants with specialized vascular tissue for water transport, enabling them to grow taller than bryophytes. They reproduce using spores, not seeds. Examples include ferns and horsetails.

A group of vascular plants that produce naked seeds (not enclosed in fruits). They often have needle-like leaves. Conifers are a well-known example.

The most diverse group of land plants. They are vascular, produce flowers, and have seeds enclosed within fruits. Examples include trees, shrubs, and grasses.

An animal whose first opening in the embryo develops into the mouth. Examples include earthworms, snails, and insects.

An animal whose first opening in the embryo develops into the anus, with the mouth forming later. Examples include humans, starfish, and sea urchins.

The reserve was established in 1986 by the Mexican government to protect the monarch butterfly's overwintering sites. It faces threats from illegal logging, which impacts the forest cover essential for the butterflies' survival.

The Ecdysozoa is the largest animal group, containing more than half of all animal species. It includes arthropods like insects, crustaceans, and spiders.