14.1-14.2-Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Who were the scientists that influenced Darwin?

Lyell, Malthus, and Lamarck

What was Lyell's theory?

Earth can change and is much older than everyone thinks

How did Lyell influence Darwin?

Influenced Darwin's explanation of evolution

(the world is way older)

What was Malthus theory?

Human population would continue to grow

(the only thing that could stop it is war and famine)

How did Malthus influence Darwin?

Overpopulation due to lack of resources in an organisms environment

What was Lamarck's theory?

The use of disuse of an organism's feature will be passed on to their offspring

How did Lamarck influence Darwin?

These traits are not passed down but can be acquired over time based on their environment

What did Darwin observe on the Galapagos Islands?

some species that were similar had traits that made them suitable for their particular environment.

What is selective breeding (artificial selection)?

Selecting and breeding organisms that have certain desired traits done by humans.

What evidence supports evolution?

Fossil record, biogeography, embryology, and comparative anatomy

What is the fossil record?

What is biogeography?

What is embryology?

study of embryos and their development

What is comparative anatomy?

the comparison of body structures in different species

What are homologous structures?

Similar in origin but not function (whale flippers /human arms)

What are vestigial structures?

remnants of organs or structures that had a function in an early ancestor (no use anymore)

What are analogous structures?

structures that perform a similar function but are not similar between species

What is geographic distribution?

Species living in different areas descended from a common ancestor but adapted to their environment.

What is an example of geographic distribution?

Biogeography

What is molecular evidence?

two closely related organisms will have similar DNA/RNA

What is DNA?

genetic material

What is RNA?

A messenger carrying instructions from DNA

What is cytochrome c?

An enzyme essential for respiration that shows evolution through organisms

Examples of natural selection?

Variation, heritability, overproduction, and reproductive advantage

What is variation?

Any difference between individuals of the same species.

What is heritability?

the ability of a trait to be passed down from one generation to the next

What is overproduction?

More offspring than environment can support

(most successful will survive)

What is reproductive advantage?

Variations that allow and organism to have more offspring

Examples of adaptations?

Fitness, camouflage, mimicry, antibiotic resistance

What is fitness?

ability to survive and reproduce

What is camouflage?

A species to blend in with its environment

What is mimicry?

one species evolves to resemble another species (mimic)

What is antibiotic resistance?

Medicine no longer affects the bacteria because they are immune to it.

Why was tusklessness becoming more common?

As animals were being hunted for their tusks and reproduced, their offspring were born with the same trait (no tusks)

How is tusklessness an example of natural selection?

The tuskless elephants became the fittest in the environment and passed it on to their offspring

What is natural selection?

The idea that the fittest survive and pass along their traits to their offspring.

Why is archaeopteryx often considered to be a "missing link" fossil?

The teeth and tail of birds are close to those of reptiles

What is Archaeopteryx?

Birds had numerous reptile features

Why was Spinosaurus such a significant find in the Kem Kem fossil beds?

The largest theropod dinosaur ever lived