Evolution

What is the percentage difference between the chimpanzee genome and the human genome?

1.3%.

What are homologous structures?

Similar structures with different functions, indicating common ancestry.

What does paleontology suggest about evolution?

It suggests how different species are linked to each other after extinction.

What are the primary mechanisms of evolution?

Gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection.

What is natural selection?

The process by which heritable variations among individuals affect their probability of surviving and reproducing.

What is artificial selection?

The intentional breeding of plants or animals for specific traits or characteristics by humans.

What is sexual selection?

A process that can lead to the development of characteristics enhancing attractiveness or competitiveness in mating.

What is the law of segregation in Mendel's laws of heredity?

Alleles segregate so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene.

What is genetic drift?

Changes in allele frequencies in a population due to random chance.

What is gene flow?

The movement of genetic material between populations through migration or interbreeding.

What is the ecological significance of a new ecological niche?

It provides resource opportunities, reduces competition, and presents unique evolutionary pressures that can drive the evolution of new traits.

What does 'convergence' refer to in evolutionary biology?

The independent evolution of similar traits in different species due to similar environmental challenges.

How can changes in DNA serve as a clock?

They can indicate the time since two species diverged from a common ancestor.

What role does ribosomal RNA (rRNA) play in evolutionary biology?

It is highly conserved across all domains of life and essential for protein synthesis.

What is observed evolution?

Evolutionary changes that can be observed in real-time, such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

What is the significance of the Galapagos Islands in Darwin's theory?

Darwin observed how finches varied from island to island, providing evidence for natural selection.

What does homoplasy mean?

Similar features that evolved separately in different species.

What is the relationship between body size and brain size in mammals?

The importance of considering body size when comparing brain size across different species.

What is encephalization factor?

A measure that accounts for an animal’s brain size relative to its body size.

What hypothesis suggests that larger brains evolved to handle complex social relationships?

The social brain hypothesis.

What is the key difference between natural and artificial selection?

Natural selection is driven by environmental factors, while artificial selection is driven by human preferences.