Biology: Chapter 22

Greek philosophers- "scala naturae"

Fixed and unchanging entities, arranged in a hierarchical structure. Ranked from the simplest forms to the most complex

Who was Carolus Linnaeus? What was his "systema naturae"?

He devised the taxonomical system of ranking organisms based on shared characteristics and assigned them Latin names. “Systema Naturae” is this Linnean structure.

List the levels of the Linnaean hierarchical system of taxonomy from kingdom to species.

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Dear King Philip Comes Over For Good Spaghetti

Scientific name

Genus and species

Homo sapiens

Explain the hypothesis proposed by Lamarck to explain how evolution works. Was it supported by evidence?

Inheritance of acquired traits- suggested that organisms could pass on characteristics acquired during their lifetime, like muscle development or learned behaviors, to their offspring.

Cuvier

Catastrophic events leading to mass extinctions

Catastrophism

Earth's features are shaped by sudden, short-lived, and violent events

What did Malthus study? How were his writings relevant and influential to biological evolution?

Studied population growth and its limitations, theorizing that populations grow exponentially while resources grow arithmetically, influencing Darwin's natural selection ideas by emphasizing the struggle for existence.

Describe Darwin's observations and inferences while on the Voyage of the Beagle. What did he see and do? How did that influence his views on biological evolution?

Darwin observed diverse species and their adaptations in various environments during his voyage. He inferred that species change over time through natural selection, influenced by environmental pressures and competition for resources.

Galapagos Finches

What influence did Wallace have on Darwin's views and publications? Why are Darwin and Wallace considered co-discoverers of natural selection?

Independently proposed the theory of natural selection around the same time as Darwin,

Wallace's work prompted Darwin to publish his findings, leading to their joint recognition in the development of evolutionary theory.

Modern synthesis

Theory of evolution that integrates Darwin's natural selection with Mendelian genetics. It explains how genetic variation and natural selection work together to drive evolutionary change in populations.

Natural selection

Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Uniformitarianism

Hutton- The same geological processes that operate today have always operated in the past, leading to gradual change.

Heredity

Passing of traits from parents to offspring through genetic information. Ensures that advantageous traits are passed on

Variation

Provides the differences necessary for selection

Differential reproduction

Individuals with advantageous traits produce more offspring than those without, leading to changes in the population over time.

Difference between evolution and natural selection

Evolution is the change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, leading to the gradual development of new species. While natural selection is a mechanism of evolution in that individuals with specific traits are more likely to survive and pass those traits on.

What does the fossil record reveal about the evolution of whales? Summarize the main findings.

Whales evolved from land-dwelling mammals. The gradual reduction of hind limbs, development of a more streamlined body and tail, and transformation of the ear structure to adapt to underwater hearing.

Analogous structures

Same solution to a similar problem.

Body parts in different species that perform the same but are of different evolutionary origins.

Often a result of convergent evolution.

Ex: Wings of a bat and wings of a Butterfly

Homologous structures

Share the same origin but have different functions. Indicate shared ancestry.

Ex: Forelimbs of humans, whales, and bats.

Convergent evolution

Unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

Often causes analogous structures

Ex: Sugar gliders and flying squirrels

Divergent evolution

Two or more related species become more dissimilar over time due to different environmental pressures or ecological niches

Define biogeography. How does biogeography support the theory of evolution?

Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of organisms. It shows how species evolve differently in isolated environments, leading to diverse forms based on local conditions.

Antibiotic resistance

Occurs when bacteria evolve mechanisms to survive exposure to antibiotics. This happens through mutations or the transfer of resistant genes, making the bacteria less sensitive or resistant to the drug

Ex: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA

Pesticide resistance

Occurs when pests evolve traits that help them survive pesticide exposure. Over time, a population of pests may become less susceptible to the pesticide, leading to the need for stronger chemicals or alternative methods

Ex: resistant strains of mosquitoes to DDT.

Hutton and Lyell

Gradual changes over long periods and species evolve through slow continuous processes.