SBI3U UNIT 1 – Lessons 1-4 Review

A collection of flashcards to help students review key concepts from SBI3U Unit 1 Lessons 1-4 in preparation for the exam.

What is the main focus of the Grade 11 Biology course (SBI3U)?

The focus is on understanding processes that occur in biological systems, including biodiversity, evolution, genetic processes, animal structure and function, and plant anatomy.

What are the three components of evaluation for the SBI3U course?

Key Questions (60%), Midterm Test (20%), and Final Test (20%).

What does the theory of evolution by natural selection explain?

It explains the diversity of life on our planet and how organisms adapt over time.

Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Charles Darwin.

What was the significance of Darwin's book 'On the Origin of Species'?

It outlined the theory of evolution and provided evidence supporting it.

What is natural selection?

A process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

What are pre-zygotic isolating mechanisms?

Barriers that prevent mating between populations before fertilization occurs.

What is a population bottleneck?

A significant reduction in population size that reduces genetic diversity.

What structure is used to classify organisms scientifically?

Taxonomy.

What type of selection increases the frequency of extreme traits at both ends of a spectrum?

Disruptive selection.

How does artificial selection differ from natural selection?

Artificial selection is driven by human choice, while natural selection occurs due to environmental pressures.

What is genetic drift?

A mechanism of evolution resulting from random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

What does the term 'fitness' refer to in evolutionary biology?

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

What are vestigial structures?

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.

What can lead to speciation?

Geographical, behavioral, or reproductive barriers that prevent interbreeding between populations.

What are some examples of reproductive isolating mechanisms?

Geographical isolation, habitat isolation, temporal isolation, behavioral isolation, mechanical isolation.

What is the founder effect?

A form of genetic drift that occurs when a new population is established by a small number of individuals from a larger population.

Why is understanding evolution important for addressing current problems like antibiotic resistance?

It helps us develop strategies to combat the evolution of drug-resistant bacteria.

What is the role of homologous structures in evolution?

They provide evidence of common ancestry, showing how species have diverged from a common ancestor.

What is speciation?

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.