Evolution and Natural Selection

These flashcards summarize key concepts of evolution and natural selection, focusing on species characteristics, mechanisms of evolution, genetic principles, and significant historical examples.

Which species had a flat face, reduced brow ridge, and centrally located foramen magnum?

Homo sapiens

What environmental factor in the tooth mutation simulation caused long teeth to become advantageous?

Tough food

What skull feature provides the strongest evidence for bipedalism?

Foramen magnum position

In the PHET simulation, brown fur provided a survival advantage in which environment?

Grassland

What are the three conditions required for natural selection to occur?

Variation in traits, Differential survival and reproduction, Competition for resources

What outcome indicates that a population is evolving according to Hardy-Weinberg calculations?

Observed ≠ expected

What does a bottleneck event cause a population to lose?

Genetic diversity due to sudden size reduction

In Hardy-Weinberg terms, what does 2pq represent?

Heterozygous individuals

When does the founder effect occur?

A small group starts a new population with limited alleles

Why did white rabbits decline when wolves were introduced in the sand background?

They were more visible to predators.

How do allele frequencies change in a population over time?

Mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow

Why do natural populations rarely meet Hardy-Weinberg conditions?

They are influenced by mutation, selection, migration, and drift.

What is genetic drift?

Random change in allele frequencies, especially in small populations.

What does deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations indicate?

The population is evolving.

Which is NOT one of the Hardy-Weinberg assumptions?

Small population size.

If q² = 0.09, what is q?

0.3

Why might populations with larger gene pools adapt more effectively?

More genetic variation allows more adaptive traits.

What is one of Darwin’s postulates about heritable traits?

Most characteristics are heritable.

What is a hybrid zone?

A region where two distinct species interbreed and produce hybrids.

What can lead to the formation of new species?

Hybridization, geographic isolation, and more.

How does the breakup of Pangea relate to biogeography?

It allowed distinct species to develop in isolated regions.

What is an example of a prezygotic barrier?

Temporal isolation.

Why is the statement 'evolution is just a theory' inaccurate?

Theories are well-supported frameworks backed by evidence.

What arises through convergent evolution?

Analogous structures.

What role do electrons play in glucose catabolism?

They transfer energy.

What happened in the simulation when the background changed from sand to snow?

White fur became more advantageous.

Genetic drift is most likely to impact which type of population?

Small populations.

What was the advantage of dark fur on dark lava rocks in the rock pocket mouse study?

Better camouflage.

What is a pronounced sagittal crest associated with?

Strong jaw muscles for chewing.

Which hominid had the largest cranial capacity?

Homo neanderthalensis.