Lecture Review: Phylogeny and the History of Life

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on phylogeny, bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants, animals, and human evolution.

What is a phylogeny?

A phylogeny is a visual representation of the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

What can lead to an incorrect phylogeny?

Convergent evolution and losses of traits can lead to an incorrect phylogeny as they can cause unrelated species to appear more closely related than they are.

Define a monophyletic group.

A monophyletic group consists of an ancestor and all its descendants.

What is adaptive radiation?

Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor in response to varied environmental conditions.

What are mass extinctions?

Mass extinctions are significant and widespread decreases in the biodiversity on Earth, marked by the extinction of a large number of species in a relatively short period.

What is a lichen?

A lichen is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium.

How do fungi obtain matter and energy?

Fungi obtain matter and energy through absorption, breaking down organic matter, unlike animals which ingest food.

What is an example of a plant adaptation to terrestrial environments?

Stomata, vascular tissue, and seeds are adaptations of plants for adapting to terrestrial environments.

What is the purpose of fruit in plants?

The purpose of fruit is to aid in the dispersal of seeds.

What are the two types of animal symmetry?

The two types of animal symmetry are radial symmetry and bilateral symmetry.

How are tetrapods related to fish?

Tetrapods are thought to have evolved from a lineage of lobe-finned fishes that adapted to life on land.

What does the story of human evolution illustrate?

The story of human evolution illustrates a radiation rather than a linear progression, with multiple species coexisting at different points in time.

What does the recent evolution model of humans suggest?

The recent evolution model suggests that modern Homo sapiens spread from East Africa across the globe over the last 70,000 years.