Darwin
Observing the unique life forms on these islands, including the many types of finches, prompted ______ to wonder whether the environment causes populations to change.
vampire finches
______ _______ found on the Galápagos Islands have been observed feasting on the blood of large seabirds.
evolution
The many organisms that inhabit our planet are well matched to their environment as a result of _______
evolution
________ explains both the diversity of life and the similarities that exist among life forms.
HMS beagle
After his 5 years aboard the ____ _____, Darwin made a bold proposal: species have descended from ancestral forms and have been modified to suit their environments.
Darwin and Wallace
______ and ______ both proposed a mechanism of evolution called natural selection.
natural selection
can be broadly defined as an evolutionary process that adapts a population to its environment
On the Origin of Species
In 1859, Darwin laid out the theory of evolution by natural selection in the book __ ____ ___ ___ _____ in which he provided extensive support for the theory.
new
Darwin further observed that when natural selection acts differently on two populations, they may emerge as two ___ species descended from one ancestral population.
allele frequencies
We can define evolution more specifically as a change in _____ _______ of a gene pool.
gene pool
the sum of all the genetic information carried by all the individuals in a population. As the proportion of alleles within the population changes, so, too, do the traits that these genes encode.
(1) Mutation, (2) gene flow, (3) genetic drift, (4) natural selection
Four mechanisms can change the composition of a population’s gene pool:
mutations
are the ultimate source of all genetic variation and are the result of random changes in DNA sequences
random, needs it
Mutations are purely ______ and do not occur because an individual or species “_____ ___.”
Mistakes in DNA replication, Collisions of the DNA molecule with other molecules, Damage from heat or chemical agents
Gene mutations are caused by various accidents such as:
evolution
New mutations that are inherited change the overall genetic composition of the descendant population (change in gene pool), resulting in ______.
alleles, genotype
DNA variants produced by mutation are _____ and the two alleles for each gene in an individual make up the ______ of that individual for that gene.
rare, increase
Although a beneficial mutation is ____, once it is introduced, natural selection can rapidly _____ the frequency of the new allele.
Culex pipiens
Resistance to DDT in _____ ______ mosquitoes is caused by a single mutation.
gene flow
is the movement of genes from one population to another.
migration
A population evolves when there is a change in the gene pool through _______ or out-migration (emigration).
genetic drift
is a random process that can cause the gene pool of a population to change randomly from one generation to the next over time.
genetic drift
______ ____ may cause individuals with a unique set of characteristics to die off while allowing individuals with different characteristics to survive and reproduce.
small, large
Genetic drift is more likely to alter the gene pool of a ____ population than that of a ____ population.
genetic bottleneck
When a drop in the size of a population leads to a loss of genetic variation, the population is said to experience a _____ _______
the founder effect
a type of genetic bottleneck created when a small group of individuals established a new population far from existing populations.
natural population
Individuals in a ______ _________ must compete for resources, such as food, mates, and living space, and avoid predators and defend against pathogens; individuals best able to do so are more likely to survive and reproduce.
natural selection
a nonrandom, directional process that shifts the genetic characteristics of a population in one direction that leads to adaptation over successive generations.
adaptation
The process by which a population as a whole becomes better matched to its habitat over successive generations is known as _______
Adaptive traits
are genetic characteristics that enable the individuals to function well, and therefore survive and reproduce better in a competitive environment
does not
Natural selection ____ ___ craft perfection for all time and all circumstances
Directional selection
Stabilizing selection
Disruptive selection
Individuals with certain forms of an inherited phenotypic trait tend to have better survival rates and to produce more offspring than do individuals with other forms of that trait in all three types of natural selection:
directional selection
When individuals at one extreme of an inherited phenotypic trait have an advantage over other individuals in the population, they exhibit _______ _______
stabilizing selection
When individuals with intermediate values of an inherited phenotypic trait have an advantage over other individuals in the population, they exhibit __________ _______
disruptive selection (fairly uncommon)
When individuals with either extreme of an inherited phenotypic trait have an advantage over individuals with an intermediate phenotype, they exhibit ________ ________
match
Adaptations show a close ____ between organism and environment
Adaptations
help organisms accomplish important functions, such as feeding, defense against predators, and reproduction.
99
Scientists estimate that __ percent of all species that have ever lived are now extinct. Every extinct species is a silent testament to an inability to adapt in the face of adversity.
absence, limit
In some cases the ______ of genetic variation places a direct ____ on the ability of natural selection to generate adaptations in descendant populations.
Ecological trade-offs
_________ ______ ____ may also limit adaptation. To survive and reproduce, organisms must perform many functions, such as finding food and mates, avoiding predators, and surviving challenges posed by the physical environment. However, the conflicting demands that organisms face result in trade-offs, or compromises, in their ability to perform these essential functions.
sexual selection
When individuals differ in inherited characteristics that affect their ability to get mates, they exhibit _____ _____
sexual dimorphism
Sexual selection can lead to _______ ________, which means that males and females are distinctly different in appearance.
Fossils
are the preserved remains, or their impressions, of formerly living organisms, which enable biologists to reconstruct the history of life on Earth
mirrored
The evolutionary and ecological history of some groups is ______ in an almost seamless fossil record that shows organisms changing from ancestral forms to forms that are still present.
Artificial selection
the process by which only individuals with certain inherited characteristics are allowed to breed.
continental drift (or plate tectonics)
The slow movement of the Earth’s continents over time is called:
geographic location
By measuring continental drift, scientists can predict the ________ _______ of fossils, providing another important line of evidence for evolution
population
Evolution is the change that occurs in _____ over time
Adaptations
_________ are often complex. Happen in a stepwise function.
evolutionary past
Patterns of growth in the very earliest stages of life can provide evidence of an organism’s _________ ______.
ancestral
The manner in which an embryo develops, especially at the early stages, may mirror early developmental stages of _______ forms.
more similar
DNA sequences and protein sequences of organisms that share a more recent common ancestor are ____ _______ than those that shared a common ancestor further back in time
B
Of the following situations that pertain to evolution, which one is false? A. Organisms inherit traits from their parents. B. Organisms can adapt to prepare their offspring for future events. C. Evolution can happen by chance.
B
Of the following, which term or phrase best describes the process of natural selection? A. genetic drift B. differential reproductive success C. mutation D. gene flow
B
The average litter size for a squirrel is three. Above and below three is not favored. What type of selection is occurring? A. disruptive selection B. stabilizing selection C. directional selectionB