Biology Lecture 8 Flashcards: Development of Evolutionary Theory

Define a homologous structure.

Features that show a common ancestor, but serve different functions

How was Aristotle significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He was the first person to study nature systematically and categorize organisms.

How was Linnaeus significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He developed the Systema Naturae which eventually developed into the Tree of Life and theory of evolution.

How was Leclerc significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He inferred that vestigial structures must have served a purpose in the distant past, but not currently.

How was Lyell significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He proposed that observable geological processes could create the physical world.

How was Smith significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He mapped the rocks and fossils in different geological strata.

How was Lamark significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He was the first to propose the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. However, this was later disproven.

How was Malthus significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He proposed a “population theory.” The imbalance of human population growth and food production would lead to a “Malthusian catastrophe”

How was Mendel significant to the development of evolutionary thought?

He cultivated pea plants to learn how traits moved between generations and deduced the basic principle of genetics.

What does “Survival of the Fittest” mean?

Organisms best adapted to their environment have the greatest chance of surviving and reproducing. 

Compare and contrast Lamarck and Darwin's explanation for how organisms adapt to challenges in their environment.

Lamarck believed in acquired traits and evolution was individuals changing during their lifetime. Darwin believed in heritable genetic traits and evolution was individuals changing over generations.

Explain the inferences that Darwin drew based on observations he made during and after his voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle.

Species changed over time, they are related by common ancestry, geography shapes evolution, and adaptations arise because they help survival

Outline the observations and inferences that Darwin used to articulate his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Observations:

Individuals in a population vary, some variation is heritable, there is competition to survive, and resources are limited.

Inferences:

Some individuals have traits that give them an individuals, they leave more offspring, and over time, populations change.

Describe how the Modern Synthesis addressed the deficiencies in Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Showed that natural selection acts on genetic variation which explained inheritance and variation