BIO182

What is the Big Idea of Module 44 regarding evolution?

Evolution is supported by multiple lines of evidence including homologous structures, vestigial structures, fossils, and biogeography.

What are homologous traits?

Features shared by different species because they inherited them from a common ancestor.

What are the types of homologous traits?

Homologous traits can be anatomical (body structures), cellular, or molecular (DNA/proteins).

What do homologous structures indicate?

Divergent evolution, where structures are similar due to shared ancestry but may serve different functions.

Can you give an example of homologous traits?

The amniotic egg shared by reptiles, birds, and mammals.

What are vestigial structures?

Reduced structures that no longer serve their original function.

Can you provide examples of vestigial structures?

Whale hip bones, human appendix, and wings in flightless birds.

How do fossils contribute to the evidence of evolution?

Fossils are preserved remains that show extinct species, transitional forms, and evolutionary changes over time.

What are the two main methods of dating fossils?

Relative dating, based on rock layer position, and absolute dating, which uses radioactive isotopes.

What does biogeography study?

The distribution of species and how geographic locations influence evolution.

What evidence supports the idea that evolution is ongoing?

Examples include whale evolution, modern evolution observed in species like Darwin’s finches and cliff swallows.

What is antibiotic resistance?

A process that occurs when bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics, demonstrating natural selection.

What types of resistance also indicate ongoing evolution?

Insecticide resistance, pesticide resistance, herbicide resistance, and drug-resistant malaria.

What are some examples of emerging diseases?

New viral strains, drug-resistant bacteria, and zoonotic diseases that spread from animals to humans.

What does the fossil record show?

Transitional forms, extinct species, and evolutionary changes over time.

What is directional selection?

A process where certain traits become more or less common in a population due to environmental pressures.