Evolutionary Biology and Diversity of Life
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Questions and Answers

Which mechanism of biological evolution is primarily responsible for the survival of individuals best adapted to their environment?

  • Genetic drift
  • Gene flow
  • Sexual selection
  • Natural selection (correct)

    • What are the three pillars of natural selection as proposed by Darwin?

  • Reproduction, variation, heredity
  • Survival, competition, diversity
  • Competition, variation, heritability (correct)
  • Adaptation, selection, evolution

    • What phenomenon occurs when certain traits appear to have no direct benefit for survival but enhance mating opportunities?

  • Natural selection
  • Gene flow
  • Genetic drift
  • Sexual selection (correct)

    • Which statement best describes genetic variation?

    <p>It can arise from alleles inherited from both parents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do genes play in the characteristics of organisms?

    <p>They provide instructions for protein synthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception regarding population growth in the context of natural selection?

    <p>Population growth is always exponential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of biological evolution, what does heritability refer to?

    <p>The transfer of traits from parents to offspring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding the challenges Darwin and Wallace faced in explaining evolutionary change?

    <p>They questioned how and why changes occurred in species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the unit of selection in biological evolution?

    <p>Genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of sexual selection involves female choice and preferential mate selection?

    <p>Intersexual selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long ago did the cognitive revolution occur in human evolution?

    <p>70,000 years ago</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does evolutionary psychology NOT aim to be?

    <p>A specific area of study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the five principles of evolutionary psychology?

    <p>The mind is mainly governed by consciousness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a mismatch arising from the environment of evolutionary adaptiveness (EEA)?

    <p>Fear of modern threats like guns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which behavioral adaptation can be explained by understanding the aggression's evolutionary predictions?

    <p>Deterring mates from infidelity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic pertains to the life of Homo sapiens as hunter-gatherers?

    <p>Egalitarian social structures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor greatly influences behavior according to evolutionary psychology?

    <p>Genetic predispositions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following does evolutionary psychology hypothesize about the mind?

    <p>It is designed to solve adaptive problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of resource acquisition may lead to aggression as proposed in evolutionary psychology?

    <p>Co-opting resources from others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of human physiology is mentioned as being influenced by genetic evolution?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these evolutionary predictions relates to social hierarchies?

    <p>Negotiating status and power hierarchies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of comparative evolutionary psychology?

    <p>Examining traits in relation to human cultural groups and species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does parental investment theory suggest about mate selection?

    <p>The gender that invests more will compete for mates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of selection is characterized by competition among the same sex for access to mates?

    <p>Intra-sexual selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key hypothesis regarding mate preferences related to MHC compatibility?

    <p>Women tend to favor MHC-dissimilarity in potential partners.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What assumption is made about traits that emerge earlier in development?

    <p>They are less likely to depend on socio-cultural learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory posits that females will choose mates based on the resources they can provide?

    <p>Parental investment theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major limitation is addressed by comparative evolutionary psychology?

    <p>Dependence on speculation about evolutionary ancestral environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes the averageness hypothesis?

    <p>Composite faces are rated as more attractive due to perceived lower risks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the developmental perspective influence the understanding of behavior?

    <p>It suggests earlier traits are less dependent on socio-cultural learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does social psychology suggest about gendered mate preferences?

    <p>They depend on the influence of social structure and culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a methodological perspective combined in the comparative approach?

    <p>Psychological</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of sexual selection as described in the content?

    <p>Increasing mating success and reproductive success.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach argues that the sex with higher parental investment will be more selective in mate choice?

    <p>Parental investment theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The cultural intelligence hypothesis suggests that humans have evolved what type of skills?

    <p>Specialized skills in social cognition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Diversity of Life

    • Earth is home to approximately 8.7 million species.
    • Explaining this vast diversity with a coherent theory has been a challenge.
    • Debates on evolutionary theories continue.

    Mechanisms of Evolution

    • Five key mechanisms drive biological evolution:
      • Natural selection
      • Sexual selection
      • Genetic drift
      • Gene flow
      • Mutation

    Observations Before Darwin & Wallace

    • Change occurs over time.
    • Traits have a purpose.

    Darwin & Wallace's Explanatory Challenge

    • Why do changes occur?
    • How do new species emerge?
    • What is the function of traits?

    The Origin of Species (Darwin 1859)

    • Three pillars of natural selection:
      • Competition: Unlimited resources lead to exponential population growth, creating a struggle for existence.
      • Variation: Individuals vary in their ability to compete. Individuals with advantageous variations are selected. The best-adapted individuals are most likely to survive.
      • Heritability: Variation is inherited. Differential reproductive success leads to the evolution of populations.

    Natural Selection Scrutinized

    • Population growth: Populations indeed grow exponentially.
    • Sufficient time: Evolution has occurred over significant time spans.
    • Heritability of variation: Variation is passed on to offspring.
    • Sexual dimorphism: Some adaptations, seemingly non-survival-related, are advantageous for mating or reproduction.

    Genes

    • Genes influence physical appearance and bodily functions.

    • Genes contain instructions needed to produce proteins.

    • Proteins structure the body and support processes.

    • Genes reside on DNA strands (deoxyribonucleic acid).

    • Gregor Mendel (1865): Organisms inherit two alleles (one from each parent).

    • DNA replicates and is passed to offspring.

    • Genotype: Genetic makeup.

    • Phenotype: Observable traits.

    • Sources of genetic variation: Sexual reproduction, mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow.

    The Selfish Gene

    • The gene is the fundamental unit of selection in evolution (not the individual or trait).
    • Genes are inherently self-serving.
    • Biological fitness is measured by the number of gene copies passed on.

    Sexual Selection

    • Intersexual selection: Preferential mate choice, often driven by female selection and gametic investment.
    • Intrasexual selection: Competition between same-sex individuals for access to mates (e.g., status, combat, resource control).

    Evolution of the Human Species

    • Hunter-gatherer lifestyle: 200,000 years ago to now, lived in groups, likely had egalitarian social structures, and displayed a division of labor.
    • Cognitive revolution: 70,000 years ago
    • Industrial revolution: 200 years ago
    • Digital revolution: 20 years ago

    From Evolution to Human Behavior

    • Evolution, genes, psychology, cognition, behavior, learning, and culture are interconnected.
    • Physiology and behavior are gene-dependent.

    Evolutionary Psychology (EP)

    • An approach to understanding the design of the human mind (not a field of study).
    • The human mind is a set of information-processing machines designed by natural selection to address problems faced in the hunter-gatherer era.

    Five Principles of Evolutionary Psychology

    • Physical system: The brain operates according to physical laws.
    • Adaptive problems: Neural circuits evolved to address ancestral problems.
    • Hidden processes: Much of mental activity occurs unconsciously.
    • Specialized circuits: Different circuits solve specific adaptive problems.
    • Stone Age mind: Modern behavior is rooted in ancestral solutions.

    Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA)

    • Mismatch example 1 (Fear): Fears of EEA threats (e.g., snakes) are more substantial than modern (e.g., cars).
    • Mismatch example 2 (Diet): Modern diets differ from ancestral needs, leading to health issues due to excessive sugar and fat consumption.

    Criticism of Evolutionary Psychology

    • Methodology: Backwards inferences, "just-so stories," uncertain EEA pressures.
    • Interpretation: Concerns about eugenics, feminism, and other potential biases.
    • Non-adaptive explanations: Alternative explanations for behaviors.

    Comparative Evolutionary Psychology

    • Addresses EP's limitations by comparing humans to other species to understand the origins of behavior.
    • Three perspectives:
      • Developmental: Early emergence traits vs learned traits
      • Phylogenetic: Traits in related species.
      • Cross-cultural: Trait variations across groups.

    Intersexual Selection

    • Natural selection prioritises survival traits.
    • Sexual selection prioritises mating success.

    Parasite Theory

    • Parasites are major mortality factors and lead to attractive traits (signal a strong immune system).

    Averageness Hypothesis

    • Average/composite faces are rated as more attractive.

    Parental Investment Theory (Trivers 1972)

    • Parental investment is the expenditure on offspring for survival and reproductive success.
    • Females invest more than males due to larger gametes and pregnancy/childbirth.
    • Sex with greater investment is more selective in choosing mates.
    • Less-investing sex competes for mates.

    Mate Preferences (Evolutionary Approach)

    • Buss (1989): Cross-cultural study of mate preferences.
    • Sex differences in preferences emerge, with males valuing reproductive capacity and females valuing resource acquisition.
    • There are noted intra-sexual variations.

    Mate Preferences - Face and Odor Preferences

    • Masculinity preferences in women's choices are complex.
    • MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex): Genes related to immunity and mate choice in many species (humans prefer MHC dissimilar mates).

    Sexual social roles

    • Evolutionary psychology vs. social psychology on sex differences
    • Social psychology considers social structure's significant influence. individuals seek mates suitable for social roles.

    Gender Equality

    • Gender differences in mate preferences decline with greater gender equality.

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    Description

    Explore the vast diversity of life on Earth and the mechanisms that drive evolution in this quiz. Delve into the theories of Darwin and Wallace, and understand the principles of natural selection and the factors that influence species adaptation and survival.

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