Evolution Unit 1/Unit 2 Test 1

Biological Evolution

Any changes in inherited traits throughout a population

Natural Selection

-mechanism that can lead to evolution

-survival and reproduction due to differences in heritable traits

-some genetic types can replace others

proximate explanations

immediate mechanism underlying a trait (struck iceberg)

Ultimate explanations

describe a historical reason a trait exists (too much confidence in the unsinkable ship)

Homologous trait

traits shared between species because they are inherited from common ancestor

Analogous trait

similar features in different species that evolved independently due to similar selection pressures

Cetaceans

fully aquatic marine mammals including whales

Artiodactyles

even toed hoofed mammals - hippo

Heritable (inherited) Trait

gene passed down biologically

Hypothesis

informed conjective or statement of what might be true

Fact

a hypothesis that has acquired so much supporting evidence that we act as if it true

Scientific Theory

-comprehensive body of statements, based on reasoning and evidence, that explains some aspects of nature

-broad explanation

-explains how and why

The Great Chain of Being

Theory of Forms which proposed that all earthly objects are imperfect representations of ideal forms

species were arranged on a scale from “lower” to “higher” forms, creating a fixed hierarchy of complexity that was never meant to change

taxa

groups of organims that taxonomists judge to be cohesive

Carolus Linnaeus

He was the “Father of Modern Taxonomy”

revolutionized how we categorize living organism by developing a system that placed species into a nested hiearrchy of taxa

(system that organizes living things into a series of nested categories that we use today)

Nicolas Steno

Danish scientist

Among first to recognize that fossils were the remains of once living organisms not objects formed in rocks

stratigraphy

study of layering in rocks (most recent on top)

George Cuvier

French Naturalist

recognized fossils documented succession of different fauna throughout Earths history (founding paleontology)

Mary Anning

English Fossil Collector and paleontologist

Her finding provided compelling evidence of extinction

Extinction

permanent loss of species

Paleontology

study of prehistoric life through fossils

George Buffon

Among First Naturalists

that proposed ideas that challenged the fixed species worldview (though never developed a comprehensive theory)

Jean-Baptist Lamarck

First Naturalist

to propose a comprehensive theory of evolution (though he was incorrect)