Evolutionary Concepts

Galapagos Finches

• Galapagos finches on separate islands with diverse food sources developed different beaks.
• This is an example of speciation.

Evolution in Individuals

• Individuals do not undergo evolution.
• Evolution occurs at the population level.

Adaptive Phenotype

• A phenotype improving an organism's survival chance in its environment is an adaptation.

Natural Selection

• People selectively breeding hamsters for size is not an example of natural selection.
• Insect populations developing pesticide resistance exemplifies natural selection.
• Bacteria becoming antibiotic-resistant represents natural selection.
• Male birds inheriting attractive feathers demonstrates natural selection.

Genetic Drift

• Genetic drift is the change of allele frequency in a population.
• Genetic drift is due to random chance.

Vestigial Structures

• Pelvic bones in whales are not needed for movement in water.
• Whale pelvic bones are an example of a vestigial structure.

Homologous Structures

• Mammal forelimbs have similar anatomy due to a common ancestor.
• Forelimbs bone structure is an example of a homologous structure.

Genetic Drift Example

• A flood killing most of an insect population, with only a few random survivors, exemplifies genetic drift.

Species Definition

• A group of similar organisms that can reproduce fertile offspring is defined as a species.

Mutations

• Mutations are important because they bring about genetic variation.
• Genetic variation is needed for a population to evolve.

Vestigial Structure Example

• The tailbone of a human is an example of a vestigial structure.

Advantageous Traits

• Advantageous traits are more likely to be passed onto offspring because they are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Fossils Defined

• Fossils are the physical remains of a plant or animal preserved in rock or Earth's crust.

Gene Flow

• Gene flow, a mechanism of evolution, occurs when populations migrate.

Natural Selection

• Survival of the fittest is another name for natural selection.

Embryology Defined

• Embryology is the study of organisms during their early stages of development.

Moths

• Dark Moths will be more successful in a environment where the trees they live on were white but have been covered in soot from coal factories.

Homologous Structures

• Structures with the same parts but different functions suggest a common lineage.
• These are homologous.

Endosymbiotic Theory

• The theory of endosymbiosis explains the origin of eukaryotes.

Variation

• Variation signifies genetic differences among organisms of a species.

Embryo Development

• Similar stages of development in vertebrate embryos is evidence for common ancestry.

Population Defined

• All the individuals of a species that live in a particular area constitutes a population.

Cladograms/Phylogenetic Trees

• Cladograms/phylogenetic trees help to visualize how species are related.

Species Relationships

• The most closely related species on a cladogram are those sharing the most recent common ancestor.

Endosymbiotic theory

• According to endosymbiotic theory, prokaryotic cells came first.

DNA Sequencing

• Compare DNA by comparing organisms DNA sequence.
• Critter A is most closely related to Critter C according to their DNA sequence.

Reproductive Isolation

• The inability of two species to interbreed defines speciation.

Gene Flow

• Gene flow occurs when species migrate.

Sharks on Cladograms

• According to a cladogram, sharks are MOST closely related to ray-finned fish.

Classification Levels

• The 7 levels of classification are Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

Mutations

• Mutations occur randomly.

Natural Selection Requirements

• Members of a population must reproduce asexually is not required for natural selection.

Gradualism

• Gradualism is the term for the hypothesis that evolution occurs gradually over time as a slow and constant process.

Evidence of Evolution

• Body shape is not used as evidence of evolution.

Bacteria Reproduction

• Bacteria do not reproduce through sexual reproduction.

Mechanisms of Evolution

• Gene flow is a mechanism by which evolution occurs.

Supporting Endosymbiotic Theory

• Mitochondria and chloroplasts possessing their own DNA, similar to prokaryotic DNA, supports the endosymbiotic theory.

Convergent Evolution

• Sharks and dolphins share streamlined bodies, for efficient movement in the water.
• Sharks and dolphins streamlined boddies show convergent evolution.

Genetic Variability

• A major element of natural selection is that all species have genetic variability.

Biochemistry

• Carbohydrates are not a form of biochemistry used to show the relatedness of organisms.

Allele Frequency

• Gene flow is a mechanism for change in allele frequency.
• Natural selection is a mechanism for change in allele frequency.
• Genetic drift is a mechanism for change in allele frequency.

Analogous Structures

• Different organisms having wings because they evolved in environments with similar selective pressures means wings are an example of an analogous structure.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

• No offspring is NOT a condition for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

• When a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, evolution is not happening to the species.

Mitochondrial DNA

• The red panda and the racoon are the most closely related based off their Mitochondrial DNA.

Punctuated Equilibrium

• Punctuated equilibrium describes a pattern of long, stable periods interrupted by brief periods of more rapid change.

Convergent Evolution

• Convergent evolution is evolution toward similar traits in unrelated species.