Unit 2: Origins and Introduction to Evolution
56 Questions
2 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does the theory of catastrophism propose?

  • Species complexity increases steadily over time.
  • Extinct species are replaced by migrating species. (correct)
  • Species evolve continuously over time.
  • All species are created at the same time.

    • Natural selection results in immediate changes in a population's genetic makeup.

    False

    What are homologous structures?

    Structures in different species that look similar but have different functions.

    The theory of evolution states that all living things come from ______ ancestor.

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

    Match the following concepts with their definitions:

    <p>Natural Selection = Survival and reproduction based on advantageous traits Homologous Structures = Similar structures with different functions in different species Vestigial Structures = Structures that exist without normal function Artificial Selection = Human-directed breeding based on specific traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a form that supports the theory of evolution?

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

    Diversity among species is necessary for natural selection to occur.

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

    What role does biotechnology play in human survival with respect to crops?

    <p>It increases nutritional value and harvest yields.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What best describes divergent evolution?

    <p>Two species become increasingly different due to differing selective pressures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Convergent evolution is characterized by species with different ancestries becoming more similar due to shared environmental pressures.

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

    What is adaptive radiation?

    <p>Rapid evolution of multiple species from a common ancestor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Co-evolution involves two or more species that _____ each other’s evolution.

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

    Match the following evolutionary concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Divergent Evolution = Two species become increasingly different Convergent Evolution = Different ancestry with similar traits Co-evolution = Species influencing each other's evolution Adaptive Radiation = Rapid species diversification from a common ancestor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of mutation generally increases an individual's fitness?

    <p>Beneficial mutation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Adaptations can emerge from non-heritable changes in an organism's DNA.

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

    What does the term 'fitness' refer to in biological terms?

    <p>The ability of an organism to create offspring that survive long enough to reproduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Camouflage allows organisms to be _____ to predators.

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

    Match the following theories of evolution with their proponents:

    <p>Uniformitarianism = Charles Lyell Catastrophism = Georges Cuvier Inheritance of Acquired Traits = Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Punctuated Equilibrium = Stephen Jay Gould &amp; Niles Eldredge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event is associated with the theory of Catastrophism?

    <p>Major natural disasters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Migration can be an adaptation to help organisms find food and protect themselves.

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

    What is the primary role of variation within a population?

    <p>To enable natural selection and the potential for adaptation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Species can change over time according to the theory of ______.

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

    Which type of mutation is likely to have a neutral impact on fitness?

    <p>Neutral mutation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The theory of Uniformitarianism was created by Charles Darwin.

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

    How do environmental changes affect organisms' chances of survival?

    <p>They can restrict survival by causing famine, competition, or severe weather.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ______ is an adaptation that allows organisms to reduce their metabolism to save energy.

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

    What important factor allows genetic information to be spread among populations?

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

    What does the pinky represent in the '5 fingers of Evolution' model?

    <p>New gene pool</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The bottleneck effect increases genetic diversity in a population.

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

    What is the primary mechanism that introduces new alleles into a population?

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

    The presence of a 6th toe in some individuals is an example of __________.

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

    Which isolating mechanism prevents species from mating due to incompatible anatomical structures?

    <p>Mechanical isolation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sexual selection can significantly affect allele frequencies in a population.

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

    What are the two types of genetic drift?

    <p>Founder effect and bottleneck effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection drives changes in allele frequencies by selecting for __________.

    <p>adaptive traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes prezygotic mechanisms?

    <p>They prevent mating or fertilization from occurring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of isolation with their descriptions:

    <p>Behavioral isolation = Differences in mating rituals prevent mating Temporal isolation = Species mate at different times Ecological isolation = Populations live in different habitats Gametic isolation = Sperm and eggs fail to fuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hybrid inviability allows hybrid offspring to reproduce successfully.

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

    What is gene flow?

    <p>The net movement of alleles between populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    _____________ can occur when two species interbreed and produce offspring that are sterile.

    <p>Hybrid sterility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main consequence of inbreeding in a population?

    <p>Higher rates of homozygosity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Allopatric speciation occurs when populations are separated by a geographic barrier.

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

    Which of the following best describes the concept of stasis in population dynamics?

    <p>Little to no change in population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Natural selection operates only within large populations.

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

    What is the significance of a transitional fossil?

    <p>It shows the structural changes between older and younger fossils.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring is known as __________.

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

    Match the type of selection with its definition:

    <p>Directional selection = Favors individuals at one extreme trait Disruptive selection = Favors individuals at both extremes of a trait Stabilizing selection = Favors average phenotypes reducing variance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which observation supports the idea of homology in evolutionary biology?

    <p>All vertebrates share similar forelimb bone structures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Vestigial structures are completely non-functional remnants of evolutionary ancestry.

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

    What do alleles represent in genetics?

    <p>They are variations of a gene.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In genetics, the sum of all versions of genes in a population is referred to as the __________.

    <p>gene pool</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the type of fossil evidence with its description:

    <p>Fossils = Remains of ancient organisms Anatomical structures = Similar structure indicating common ancestry DNA evidence = Comparison of genetic material to determine relationships</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to gene frequencies in small populations compared to large ones?

    <p>They are more likely to change rapidly due to genetic drift.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The physical expression of an organism's genetic makeup is known as its genotype.

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

    What role does embryology play in evolutionary biology?

    <p>It studies early developmental stages to determine relationships between organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Directional selection often leads to a shift in the ________ of a trait over time.

    <p>average phenotype</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Origins of Life

    • Life's origins are often associated with divine creation, but scientific understanding has evolved through the discovery of fossils.
    • Catastrophism proposed that extinction events were followed by new species migrating in, without necessarily a progressive increase in complexity.
    • Homologous structures share similarities in structure but have different functions, while vestigial structures are remnants of ancestral features with reduced or absent functions.

    Introduction to Evolution

    • Scientific laws describe observed patterns, while scientific theories explain and are supported by evidence.
    • Evolution is the change in species over time, resulting in modern species descended from common ancestors.
    • Evolution is not about becoming "better," but rather change over generations.
    • Evidence supporting evolution includes taxonomy, fossils, genetics, and anatomy/physiology.
    • Evolution involves variation and selection.
    • Selection pressures (predation, fertility) influence genetic change in populations.
    • Artificial selection (e.g., GMOs) is driven by human choice, while natural selection is driven by environmental factors.
    • Natural selection favors traits beneficial for survival and reproduction in a given environment.
    • Variation is essential for natural selection.
    • Mutations (changes in DNA) create new genetic variations, with some being neutral, harmful, or beneficial to an organism's survival and reproduction. Inheritable mutations are passed on to offspring.
    • Environmental changes (famine, weather) can lead to survival challenges for organisms.

    Adaptation & Variation

    • Adaptations are heritable changes enabling organisms to thrive in their environment (structural, behavioral, physiological).
    • Variations are differences within a population.
    • Not all variations result in adaptations.
    • Camouflage, migration, hibernation, and mimicry are examples of adaptations.
    • Interactions within an environment influence variation and adaptations.
    • Fitness is an organism's ability to produce offspring that survive long enough to reproduce.

    Natural & Artificial Selection

    • Black mice in a dark environment have a selective advantage due to camouflage.
    • Artificial selection is manipulated by humans, while natural selection is driven by environmental pressures.

    Theories of Evolution

    • Uniformitarianism (Lyell): Geological processes operate similarly today as they did in the past, creating substantial changes over long periods.
    • Catastrophism (Cuvier): Extinction events were followed by migration of new species, with changes happening abruptly.
    • Lamarck: Proposed the inheritance of acquired characteristics—the idea that traits developed during an organism's lifetime could be passed to offspring. This is incorrect.
    • Malthus: Human populations grow faster than food supply, leading to competition and struggle for existence.
    • Gould & Eldredge: Punctuated equilibrium proposes that evolution occurs in bursts of rapid change followed by periods of stability.
    • Transitional fossils show intermediate characteristics between ancestral and modern forms.
    • Geographic isolation can lead to speciation.

    Evidence of Evolution

    • Fossils show the chronological order and similarities/differences in species across time, suggesting evolution.
    • Homologous structures suggest common ancestry.
    • Vestigial structures are remnants of ancestral features with reduced functions.
    • Analogous structures have similar functions but different evolutionary origins.
    • Biogeography studies the distribution of organisms, revealing relatedness between species in similar habitats.
    • Embryology reveals similarities in early development across different species, suggesting ancestry.
    • DNA analysis shows similarities in genetic sequences, indicating common ancestry.

    Evolution & Genetics

    • DNA carries hereditary information, sequences code for proteins, and traits (e.g., hair color).
    • Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits and have variations like alleles.
    • A gene pool is the sum of all gene variations in a population.
    • Allele frequencies are the proportion of different alleles in a population.
    • Dominant alleles mask recessive alleles in heterozygotes.
    • Genotypes are genetic makeup, and phenotypes are observable traits.

    Mechanisms of Microevolution

    • Microevolution is the change in allele frequencies within a population.
    • Five mechanisms that drive microevolution are:
    • Mutation
    • Gene flow
    • Genetic drift
    • Non-random mating
    • Natural selection

    Macroevolution: Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms

    • Macroevolution encompasses larger-scale evolutionary changes.
    • Speciation is the formation of new species.
    • Allopatric speciation involves geographic isolation, while sympatric speciation occurs within the same habitat.
    • Reproductive isolation prevents gene flow between populations, contributing to speciation.
    • Prezygotic and postzygotic isolating mechanisms exist.

    Pathways of Evolution

    • Divergent evolution: Species become increasingly different.
    • Convergent evolution: Species become similar due to similar selective pressures.
    • Co-evolution: Species reciprocally affect each other's evolution.
    • Adaptive radiation: Rapid diversification of species.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore the foundational concepts surrounding the origins of life and the principles of evolution. This quiz covers both scientific theories and evidence, including the role of fossils, natural selection, and the significance of homologous and vestigial structures. Delve into the mechanism of change that shapes modern species from their ancestors.

    More Like This

    Evolutionary Biology Quiz
    5 questions

    Evolutionary Biology Quiz

    BestKnownVolcano avatar
    BestKnownVolcano
    Biology: Origin and Evolution of Life
    5 questions

    Biology: Origin and Evolution of Life

    HeavenlyMelodica avatar
    HeavenlyMelodica
    Evolutionary Biology: Origin of Life
    16 questions

    Evolutionary Biology: Origin of Life

    HeartwarmingStatueOfLiberty avatar
    HeartwarmingStatueOfLiberty
    Evolution: Origins of Animal Life
    5 questions

    Evolution: Origins of Animal Life

    UnrestrictedJasper1216 avatar
    UnrestrictedJasper1216
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser