W13 L2 - Genetics and Evolution

Flashcards on key vocabulary regarding genetics and evolution.

What is the Essay on the Principle of Population about?

Argues that unchecked population growth will outpace food production, leading to resource scarcity and poverty. Competition for resources ultimately limits population growth.

Who is Lyell?

A geologist who, along with botanist Joseph Hooker, presented Darwin's 1844 paper and Wallace's essay at the Linnean Society of London, contributing to the formal introduction of their ideas.

What is 'On The Origin of Species -1859'?

Darwin's groundbreaking work published in 1859, introducing the concept of 'Evolution as Descent With Modification' and proposing 'Natural Selection' as the primary mechanism behind it.

What is Descent with Modification?

The concept that species undergo changes over time (microevolution), lineages diverge (speciation), new life forms emerge from older ones (macroevolution), and all life forms share a common ancestry.

What is selective breeding or artificial selection?

The process by which humans selectively breed plants and animals with desirable traits, demonstrating that species can change over time (microevolution) through intentional intervention.

What are Vestigial Structures?

A body part or organ that is functionless or rudimentary in one species but has a significant function in related species, indicating evolutionary relationships and descent from a common ancestor.

What are Transitional Forms?

Fossils that exhibit a combination of traits from ancestral populations and novel traits found in their descendants, providing evidence of evolutionary transitions.

What is Biogeography?

The study of the geographic distribution of species, which offers insights into how species have evolved and adapted in different environments, supporting the theory of evolution.

What is Homology?

Similarity between species resulting from shared ancestry, reflecting common evolutionary origins.

What is Anatomical homology?

Similarities in anatomical structures between different species that arise from variations in a structural theme inherited from a common ancestor.

What are Homeobox (HOX) genes?

Regulatory genes that control the timing and spatial organization of development, with homeobox (Hox) proteins acting as transcription factors to regulate gene expression.

What is the Evolution of HOX genes?

The duplication of Hox genes allowed for functional divergence, where each copy evolved a specialized role in animal development, leading to increased complexity.

Who is Alfred Russel Wallace?

A Welsh naturalist who independently conceived a theory of evolution by natural selection while traveling in the Malaysian Archipelago, prompting Darwin to publish his own work.

What are the Four Postulates of Natural Selection?

1. Individuals in a population vary in their traits.
2. These traits are heritable, passed from parents to offspring.
3. More individuals are born than can survive, leading to competition.
4. Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring.

Does Natural Selection lead to perfection?

Natural selection works with existing variation; it doesn't create perfect organisms from scratch. Adaptations are often compromises, and traits cannot be simultaneously optimized for all functions.

Is Natural Selection progressive?

Evolutionary