20 Questions
What are the two major mechanisms behind a population evolving?
catastrophism and gradualism
What is catastrophism?
a sudden, often destructive, event that leads to the die-off of many organisms at one time
Who developed the theory of catastrophism?
Georges Cuvier
What is gradualism?
the slow change within a genome that occurs over time without any markers of mass extinction
Who developed the theory of gradualism?
James Hutton
What is an adaptation?
a change in a trait that usually proves to be an advantage in a changing environment
What is the biological definition of evolution?
The biological definition of evolution is the process of developmental changes in a population of organisms over time due to changes in the organisms' genomes over generations.
What is heredity?
Heredity is the transfer of genetic material within chromosomes from a parent to an offspring.
What are genomes?
Genomes are the sets of genes that make up the DNA or RNA of an organism.
What are the major factors that cause genomes to change over time?
The major factors that cause genomes to change over time are internal and external factors, with changes in the environment being a significant factor.
Who are two individuals who contributed to the development of the Theory of Evolution?
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace are two individuals who contributed to the development of the Theory of Evolution.
Why is evolution important?
Evolution is important because the environment and competition between organisms change over time, and organisms need to adapt and change in order to pass on their genes.
What are the three factors that act on the inheritance of traits in the evolution of a population?
natural selection, random genetic drift, and sexual selection
Define natural selection.
An adaptation in the genome of an individual organism that allows them a better chance of survival over other organisms.
What is random genetic drift?
Changes in genes that occur due to mutation or random combinations of genes during the formation of offspring.
What is sexual selection?
The selection of traits by one sex or another for mating purposes.
Name and describe the three major types of evolution.
Divergent evolution: when closely related species develop different phenotypes and traits from one another. Convergent evolution: when species develop similar features but are not closely related. Parallel evolution: when related species develop similar adaptations at the same time but are physically separated from one another.
Provide an example of divergent evolution.
The Galapagos finches that developed different beak shapes based on the food they ate.
Provide an example of convergent evolution.
The development of wing structures in bats and birds, which are not closely related.
Provide an example of parallel evolution.
The development of similar leaf structures and functions in plants.
Test your knowledge of evolutionary change with this quiz! Explore the concepts of genetic material transfer, heredity, and developmental changes in populations over time. See how well you understand the biological processes that drive evolution.
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