Introduction to Evolution

What is the aggregation of changes in populations, species or groups, and changes in allele frequencies in populations over time?

evolution

What are the changes in allele frequencies that occur over time within a population?

microevolution

What are the contributors to microevolution?

1. mutation

2. selection

3. gene flow

4. gene drift

5. non-random mating

What are the patterns of changes in groups of related species over broad periods of geologic time?

macroevolution

What are evolutionary relationships among species and groups of species?

phylogeny

(Note: determined

by patterns)

Which portion of the Lamarck Theory stated that body parts can develop with increased usage and unused parts are weakened?

use and disuse

Which portion of the Lamarck Theory stated that body features acquired during one’s lifetime can be passed down to offspring?

inheritance of acquired characteristics

Why is inheritance of acquired characteristics according to the Lamarck Theory incorrect?

only altered genetic material can be passed along

Which portion of the Lamarck Theory states that organisms produce offspring with changes, resulting in more complex species?

natural transformation of species

(Note: Lamarck did not believe in extinction or the splitting of species - incorrect!)

Which portion of Darwin's theory argues for survival of the fittest without any luck?

natural selection

According to natural selection, why do allele frequencies increase or decrease?

adaptation to the environment

What is the synthetic theory of evolution that combines Darwin’s theory with the influence of genetics?

Neo-Darwinism

(Note: expands on his observations

Which portion of Darwin's theory states that over generations, reproductively advantageous traits become more common within the population?

descent with modification

Which evidence for evolution involves the study of extinct species in aging sediment layers?

paleontology

Why does paleontology support evolution?

1. oldest fossils found

in deepest layers

2. large, rapid changes

produce new species

Which evidence for evolution involves the actual remains, petrification, imprints, molds, and casts of dead specimens?

fossil types

Which evidence for evolution involves the geography that describes the distribution of species?

biogeography

According to biogeography, unrelated species in different regions of the world look alike under what condition?

similar environment

Due to which natural phenomenon did the supercontinent Pangea slowly break apart to form the 7 continents?

continental drift

Which evidence for evolution uses similar stages of development among related species to establish evolutionary relationships?

embryology

(Ex: Gill slits and

tails are found in

fish, chickens, pigs,

and human embryos.)

Which evidence for evolution includes the development of an organism?

ontogeny

Which evidence for evolution includes the evolutionary development and diversification of a species?

phylogeny

What phrase proposes that embryological stages represent our past evolutionary ancestors?

ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

(Note: theory is considered defunct)

Which evidence for evolution describes two kinds of structures that contribute to the identification of an evolutionary relationship?

comparative anatomy

Which comparative anatomy studies body parts that resemble one another between different species that descended from a common ancestor?

homologous structure

(Ex: bat wings vs. bird wings)

Which comparative anatomy studies body parts that resemble one another between different species that evolved independently?

analogous structure

What is the reasoning for why similar body parts arise in independent organisms according to analogous structures?

similar environments call for similar adaptations

Similar anatomical structures in independently evolved species are called what?

homoplasies

(Ex: bat/bird wings vs. bee wings)

Which evidence for evolution examines nucleotide and amino acid sequences of DNA and proteins from different species?

molecular biology

Which evidence for evolution demonstrates that organisms with a common ancestor mean they have common biochemical pathways?

comparative biochemistry

Which process is responsible for producing adaptations, which are superior inherited traits, that increase an individual’s fitness?

natural selection

What potential is enormous If all offspring that are produced survive?

reproductive potential

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

What is the ability to survive and produce fertile offspring?

fitness

What metric remains stable and generally fluctuates around a constant size in populations?

population size

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

What are limited and do not increase as a population grows larger?

resources

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

Why do individuals compete for survival in a growing population?

the population will exceed the available resources

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

Are populations uniform?

no, there is variation among individuals

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

How are most of variations heritable in a population?

through passing down DNA

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

Which individuals survive in a population?

only the most fit individuals (survival of the fittest)

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

What process occurs as favorable traits accumulate in a population?

evolution

(Note: big idea of natural selection)

Can individuals evolve?

no, only populations evolve

Which type of selection favors an intermediate?

stabilizing selection

Which type of selection favors a trait that is at one extreme of the range?

directional selection

Which type of selection selects an extreme of the population resulting from industrial pollution?

industrial selection

(note: specific type

of directional selection)

Which type of selection occurs when the environment favors extreme or unusual traits while selecting against common traits?

disruptive selection

Which type of selection involves the differential mating of males or females in a population?

sexual selection

Which type of selection occurs when females choose superior males, which increases the fitness of the offspring?

intersexual selection

Which type of selection occurs when males compete and fight with other males for better mating opportunities?

intrasexual selection

What process manifests in the differences in the appearance of males and females, which is a form of disruptive selection?

sexual dimorphism

Which type of selection occurs when humans breed favorable traits in organisms?

artificial selection

(Note: not natural

selection)

the average height in humans being in the middle is an example of which selection?

stabilizing selection

Traits at one extreme of a population being favored while others are selected against is an example of which selection?

directional selection

the selection of dark-colored moths following pollution is an example of which selection?

industrial selection

certain environments favoring short and tall heights while the average height is selected against is an example of which selection?

disruptive selection

females investing more energy into their offspring by picking fit males, maximizing the quality of their offspring, is an example of which selection?

intersexual selection

The favoring of traits like musculature, horns, and large stature to attract mates and maximize quantity of offspring is an example of which selection?

intrasexual selection

Male selected for traits like colorful plumage or elaborate mating behavior by females is an example of which selection?

sexual dimorphism

(Note: form of disruptive selection)