Introduction to Evolutionary Biology

A hierarchical classification system based on perceived complexity, where living and nonliving things are organized according to their perceived 'perfection'.

The process of classifying and organizing species, based on their similarities and differences.

The idea that Earth's geological formations are formed by the same processes operating today, over long periods.

Hutton and Lyell's work on uniformitarianism influenced the idea that gradual changes over long periods could lead to significant changes in the Earth and its life.

Lamarck's theory that organisms acquire traits during their lifetime based on their needs and that these acquired traits are passed down to their offspring.

The idea that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime are not passed down to offspring. Instead, genes determine the traits inherited.

Darwin's observations of mockingbirds on different Galapagos Islands fueled his thinking on how species could evolve from a common ancestor.

Malthus's work on population growth and resource limitations influenced Darwin's concept of 'struggle for existence' and natural selection.

Evolution is the change in heritable traits of organisms over time, meaning that organisms that inherit traits beneficial for survival and reproduction are more likely to pass these traits onto future generations.

Proximate questions focus on the immediate mechanisms behind a trait, like how it functions, while ultimate questions explore the evolutionary reasoning behind its existence and how it developed over time.

Antibiotic resistance evolves as bacteria develop mutations that allow them to withstand the effects of antibiotics, making the antibiotics ineffective.

Antibiotic usage directly contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. The more antibiotics are used, the more likely bacteria are to evolve resistance.

Natural selection favors traits that improve survival and reproduction. When antibiotics are introduced, bacteria with mutations that increase resistance have an advantage, leading to the spread of resistant strains.

Essentialism suggests all members of a species are identical, meaning variations are not considered. This concept contradicts the core idea of evolution, which focuses on variations within a population.

The Great Chain of Being, or Scala Naturae, describes a hierarchical organization of life forms, with humans at the top and simpler organisms lower down. This static view of life conflicts with the idea of evolution, which emphasizes change.

The Great Chain of Being, also known as Scala Naturae, was a hierarchical model of life that placed organisms in a fixed order based on complexity, with humans at the top. It was a static view, neglecting the idea of evolution and change.

The theory that states that if the population grows faster than food production, famine will occur.

The idea that organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment are more likely to pass those traits to their offspring.

The idea that all living organisms are related through a common ancestor.

The idea that evolution happens gradually over long periods of time, with small changes accumulating.

The idea that populations of organisms change over time in response to their environment.

The idea that traits are passed down from parents to offspring, and these traits can influence the success of an organism.

This refers to the model of inheritance proposed by Gregor Mendel, which demonstrates that traits are passed on in a predictable way, not through blending.

This refers to the observation that variations in a population allow some organisms to survive better than others in a changing environment.