Evidence for Evolution

Practice flashcards covering key concepts related to evidence for evolution, including types of data, natural selection examples, homologies, the fossil record, and biogeography.

What are the four types of data that document the pattern of evolution?

1. Direct observations of evolutionary change 2. Homologies 3. The fossil record 4. Biogeography

What is an example of natural selection documented in Galápagos finches?

Natural selection has caused measurable changes in beak size among medium ground finch populations.

What occurred to the frequency of dark-colored peppered moths during the Industrial Revolution?

The frequency of dark-colored moths increased due to selective predation.

What is the significance of soapberry bugs in the study of natural selection?

Soapberry bugs exhibit changes in beak size in response to the type of fruit they feed on.

How quickly did the evolution in beak size occur in Florida soapberry bugs?

This evolution in beak size occurred in less than 35 years.

What is methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)?

MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to methicillin and is a dangerous pathogen.

What does homology refer to in evolutionary biology?

Homology is similarity resulting from common ancestry.

What is an example of a vestigial structure?

The remnants of pelvis and leg bones in snakes are vestigial structures.

What do transitional fossils help to reconstruct?

Transitional fossils assist in the reconstruction of evolutionary histories of living taxa.

How does biogeography provide evidence of evolution?

Biogeography shows how geographic isolation and environmental factors shape species diversity.