Evolutionary Biology: Units of Selection and Adaptations
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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the hypothesis that suggests the Earth's physical and biological systems are connected and interact with each other?

  • Kin selection hypothesis
  • Gene centric view
  • Gaia hypothesis (correct)
  • Group selection hypothesis

    • What is the term for when an individual does something at a cost to itself that benefits another individual?

  • Kin selection
  • Cytoplasmic inheritance
  • Sexual conflict
  • Altruism (correct)

    • What is the equation that determines whether a gene for altruism will spread in a population?

  • r x c > B
  • B x r > c (correct)
  • B x c > r
  • B + c > r

    • What is the term for the selection process that acts on species, favoring those that are prone to speciate?

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

    What is the term for the genetic advantage gained by a gene that helps its relatives?

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

    What is the term for the conflict between the genes of males and females?

    <p>Sexual conflict</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the protein that makes a foetus bigger in mice?

    <p>Igf2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the bacteria that infects the cells of ladybirds and is inherited only through the female line?

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

    What is the term for the idea that genes control the development and function of organisms?

    <p>Gene centric view</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process by which groups of organisms work together to achieve a common goal?

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

    What is the primary entity that exhibits adaptation according to the concept of natural selection?

    <p>The individual organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the level of selection at which a pack of wolves that are prepared to risk a kick from their prey would be favored?

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

    What is the term for the idea that cells within an organism can evolve to replicate whether their host wants them to or not?

    <p>Selfish cell lines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following taxa is an example of a hyper-specious group?

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

    What is the primary beneficiary of an elephant's trunk?

    <p>Its genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the level of selection at which a shellfish cell lineage may have jumped from being a cancer to becoming a new species?

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

    What is the term for the idea that natural selection can act on multiple levels, including the individual, group, and species levels?

    <p>Levels of selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary drive behind the evolution of cancer cells?

    <p>To replicate whether their host wants them to or not</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the idea that genes within an individual can evolve to increase their own transmission, regardless of the effect on the individual?

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

    What is the term for the idea that an individual can evolve to sacrifice its own fitness for the benefit of its relatives?

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

    What is the primary level of selection at which adaptations benefit the ecosystem?

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

    What is the term for the phenomenon where cell lines evolve to replicate, regardless of the host's interests?

    <p>Selfish cell lines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a level of selection where a trait can be beneficial to the group but detrimental to the individual?

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

    What is the benefit of an elephant's trunk to its genes?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the idea that natural selection can act on multiple levels, including the individual, group, and species levels?

    <p>Multi-level selection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What drives the evolution of cancer cells?

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

    Which of the following is an example of a hyper-specious group?

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

    What is the level of selection at which a shellfish cell lineage may have jumped from being a cancer to becoming a new species?

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

    What is the term for the idea that genes can evolve to increase their own transmission, regardless of the effect on the individual?

    <p>Selfish gene theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary entity that exhibits adaptation according to the concept of natural selection?

    <p>The individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the underlying assumption behind the idea that species that are prone to speciate will tend to dominate?

    <p>Species that are prone to speciate have a higher genetic variation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary criticism of the Gaia hypothesis by population geneticists?

    <p>It contradicts the gene-centric view of evolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the underlying mechanism behind kin selection?

    <p>A gene that makes an individual help its relatives will rise in frequency because the relatives are likely to contain the same gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between the gene Igf2 and the gene Igf2r in mice?

    <p>Igf2 makes a foetus bigger, while Igf2r keeps a foetus small</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary drive behind the evolution of male elephant seals' competitive behavior?

    <p>The drive to reproduce and pass on their genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of Wolbachia bacteria in ladybirds?

    <p>They are inherited only through the female line and cause male-killing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the underlying mechanism behind altruism in the gene-centric view?

    <p>A gene that makes an individual help others will rise in frequency because the recipients are likely to contain the same gene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between the gene-centric view and the traditional view of natural selection?

    <p>The gene-centric view focuses on the gene, while the traditional view focuses on the organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between a whale's genes and its offspring's genes?

    <p>A whale makes a new whale with exactly half of its own genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary drive behind the evolution of sexual conflict in fruit flies?

    <p>The drive to reproduce and pass on their genes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Units of Selection

    • The unit of selection refers to the level at which adaptations occur and change in frequency due to natural selection.
    • Levels of selection include individual selection, group selection, species selection, selfish cell lines, gene selection, and kin selection.

    Adaptations

    • Adaptations benefit different levels, including genes, cells, individuals, groups, and ecosystems.
    • For example, an elephant's trunk benefits its genes, cells, itself, its herd, and the ecosystem.

    Cell Lines and Individual Selection

    • Cell lines can sometimes act against the interests of the individual, such as in cancer.
    • Cells can evolve to replicate and develop features like chemo resistance, motility, and metastasis, even if it's detrimental to the individual.
    • Some shellfish cell lineages may have originated as cancers and evolved further.

    Group Selection

    • Group selection refers to the idea that natural selection acts on groups rather than individuals.
    • For example, a pack of self-sacrificing wolves that work together to hunt may have a selective advantage over individual wolves.

    Species Selection

    • Species selection suggests that species that are prone to speciate will tend to dominate over those that are not.
    • For example, rodents make up a third of all mammals, and beetles are highly specious.

    Gene-Centric View

    • Genes are the ultimate units of selection, as they control adaptations and are passed down through generations.
    • Genes affect how organisms interact, and many genes have effects at the level of the organism.

    Altruism and Kin Selection

    • Altruism occurs when an individual sacrifices itself for the benefit of another.
    • Kin selection explains altruism by suggesting that genes that promote helping relatives will spread because those relatives are likely to contain the same gene.
    • Hamilton's equation states that a gene is favoured if B x r is greater than c, where B is the benefit, c is the cost, and r is the coefficient of relatedness.

    Heritability and Gene Selection

    • Heritability is the idea that individuals are adapted to hold gene and cell selection in check.
    • Gene selection can lead to conflicts between individuals, such as male elephant seals competing for mating opportunities.

    Sexual Conflict

    • Sexual conflict occurs when male and female genes have different interests.
    • Examples of sexual conflict include sexual cannibalism, male manipulation of female behavior, and conflicting interests in foetal development.
    • Cytoplasmic inheritance of male-killing in ladybirds is an example of a genetic conflict between male and female genes.

    Units of Selection

    • The unit of selection refers to the level at which adaptations occur and change in frequency due to natural selection.
    • Levels of selection include individual selection, group selection, species selection, selfish cell lines, gene selection, and kin selection.

    Adaptations

    • Adaptations benefit different levels, including genes, cells, individuals, groups, and ecosystems.
    • For example, an elephant's trunk benefits its genes, cells, itself, its herd, and the ecosystem.

    Cell Lines and Individual Selection

    • Cell lines can sometimes act against the interests of the individual, such as in cancer.
    • Cells can evolve to replicate and develop features like chemo resistance, motility, and metastasis, even if it's detrimental to the individual.
    • Some shellfish cell lineages may have originated as cancers and evolved further.

    Group Selection

    • Group selection refers to the idea that natural selection acts on groups rather than individuals.
    • For example, a pack of self-sacrificing wolves that work together to hunt may have a selective advantage over individual wolves.

    Species Selection

    • Species selection suggests that species that are prone to speciate will tend to dominate over those that are not.
    • For example, rodents make up a third of all mammals, and beetles are highly specious.

    Gene-Centric View

    • Genes are the ultimate units of selection, as they control adaptations and are passed down through generations.
    • Genes affect how organisms interact, and many genes have effects at the level of the organism.

    Altruism and Kin Selection

    • Altruism occurs when an individual sacrifices itself for the benefit of another.
    • Kin selection explains altruism by suggesting that genes that promote helping relatives will spread because those relatives are likely to contain the same gene.
    • Hamilton's equation states that a gene is favoured if B x r is greater than c, where B is the benefit, c is the cost, and r is the coefficient of relatedness.

    Heritability and Gene Selection

    • Heritability is the idea that individuals are adapted to hold gene and cell selection in check.
    • Gene selection can lead to conflicts between individuals, such as male elephant seals competing for mating opportunities.

    Sexual Conflict

    • Sexual conflict occurs when male and female genes have different interests.
    • Examples of sexual conflict include sexual cannibalism, male manipulation of female behavior, and conflicting interests in foetal development.
    • Cytoplasmic inheritance of male-killing in ladybirds is an example of a genetic conflict between male and female genes.

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    Quiz on the levels of selection and adaptations in evolutionary biology, including individual, group, and species selection.

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