Organic Evolution Overview

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a key element of Lamarck's theory of evolution?

The environment directly influences the development of organisms.

Extinction is a natural part of evolution. (correct)

Organisms pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring.

Individuals within a population improve over time.

What is the primary difference between Lamarck's and Darwin's theories of evolution?

Darwin's theory focused on the improvement of species, while Lamarck's theory focused on the preservation of species.

Darwin believed in extinction, while Lamarck did not.

Lamarck believed in the inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwin believed in natural selection acting on random variation. (correct)

Lamarck focused on the complexity of organisms, while Darwin focused on the environment's role.

According to Darwin's theory of evolution, which of the following conditions is essential for natural selection to operate?

Organisms must be able to adapt to their environment through conscious effort.

The environment must be stable and unchanging.

Variation among individuals must be inheritable. (correct)

Individuals must possess a strong drive to survive and reproduce.

Why is it difficult to replicate evolution in a laboratory setting?

All of the above. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes Darwin's concept of 'fitness' in the context of evolution?

The ability of an organism to reproduce successfully and pass on its traits. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation allows an organism to survive by altering its behavior rather than its physical characteristics?

Hibernation (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main premise of creationist thought regarding the features of organisms?

Perfect features were designed from the beginning (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which concept explains the presence of similar structures in organisms of the same taxonomic group due to shared ancestry?

Homology (C) Signup and view all the answers

What term describes features that serve similar functions but evolved separately, indicating no common ancestor?

Analogous structures (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a limitation noted in the evolution towards perfect adaptation?

Genetic programs inherited from ancestors impose limits (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which study examines the distribution of organisms and the environmental factors influencing that distribution?

Biogeography (B) Signup and view all the answers

The study of embryonic development in different species reveals what type of evolutionary evidence?

Primitive traits appear in early embryos (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does paleontology primarily provide evidence for in the study of evolution?

The incompleteness of the fossil record (A) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Organic Evolution

Long-term, stable changes in the physical or behavioral characteristics of a group of organisms.

Lamarck's Theory of Evolution

The idea that species do not go extinct, but rather transform into new species under environmental pressure. Individual organisms develop traits based on use or disuse, which are then passed down to their offspring.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully, passing on those advantageous traits to their offspring.

Darwin's Theory of Evolution

The idea that new species arise due to natural selection, where random variations in organisms make some more suited to their environment, leading to greater survival and reproduction.