Evolution, Genetics, and Behavior of Primates: Key Concepts and Theories

Who established the taxonomy system and what is it?

Carolus Linnaeus

What is the significance of Jean Baptiste Lamarck's theory?

Species evolve through interactions with their environment, proposing the inheritance of acquired traits.

What concept did Georges Cuvier introduce

Fixity of species(God is perfect and created the world so everything in the world is perfect.

What does the theory of catastrophism explain?

local and global environmental disasters that result in mass extinctions.

What was Thomas Malthus's contribution to evolutionary theory?

Always more people than there is food (not everyone will survive)

What is uniformitarianism and who proposed it?

Charles Lyell, argues that Earth's geological features are the result of slow, consistent natural processes.

What was the significance of Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle?

observations of species variation, particularly in finches, which contributed to his theory of evolution.

What are the key points of Darwin's theory of evolution?

1. The world is evolving. 2. Evolution is gradual and continuous. 3. Common ancestry exists. 4. Natural selection drives evolution.

What is microevolution?

Small evolutionary changes within a population over a long period of time.

What are the forces of evolution according to the synthetic theory?

mutations, gene flow, natural selection, and genetic drift.

What is a mutation in the context of genetics?

change in the DNA sequence that can occur spontaneously and is a source of genetic variation.

What is the difference between monogenic and polygenic traits?

Single vs multiple loci

What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle state?

Constant number of alleles in population

What is the role of epigenetics in evolution?

changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence, influenced by environmental factors.

What is the significance of Gregor Mendel's work?

traits are passed down through discrete units (genes) rather than blending.

What is the concept of fitness in evolutionary biology?

Ability to produve fertile and viable offspring

What is disruptive selection?

Favoring of extreme phenotypes

What is convergent evolution?

unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

What is parallel evolution?

two species with a common ancestor evolve similar traits independently.

What does punctuated equilibrium propose about species evolution?

long periods of stability interrupted by brief episodes of rapid change.

What is genetic drift?

Change in allele frequencies in a population due to random sampling effects, more pronounced in small populations.

What is polymorphism in genetics?

Existence of two or more alleles at a locus within a population.

What is the significance of the Grants' study on finches?

Changes in finch beak size in response to environmental changes.

What is the role of gene flow in evolution?

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new alleles and increase genetic diversity.

What is altruism in the context of evolutionary biology?

Self-sacrificing behavior that seems illogical in terms of microevolution.

Who proposed the concept of kin selection?

W.D. Hamilton.

What does inclusive fitness refer to?

The total genetic contribution through one's own offspring and relatives.

What phenomenon is observed in langur monkeys related to infanticide?

Adult males killing infants, known as the Bruce effect.

What is the focus of Darwinian medicine?

Applying modern evolutionary theory to understand health and disease.

What is a basic assumption of Darwinian medicine?

Biological characteristics of modern humans must have once provided a benefit.

What dietary changes occurred with the advent of agriculture?

Increased reliance on grains, decreased reliance on vegetables, and decreased protein intake.

What is sociobiology?

The study of genetic determination of behavior as acquired by natural selection.

What are the evolutionary trends observed in primates?

Increased flexibility in hands and feet, decreased reliance on smell, and increased reliance on vision.

What is the visual predation hypothesis?

The idea that certain primate traits evolved as adaptations to a dense underbrush environment.

What are the three groups of primates?

Prosimians, New world, and Old world monkeys.

What are characteristics of prosimians?

They are the earliest primates, least developed, nocturnal, and often solitary.

What distinguishes anthropoids from other primate groups?

They include New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, and hominids.

What are the characteristics of lesser apes?

They swing on branches, are territorial, and mostly frugivorous.

Greater apes?

gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, and humans

What is the significance of dominance hierarchies in primate behavior?

They maintain social cohesion and decrease conflict within groups.

How do dominant females in primate groups benefit?

They live longer, have higher fitness, and their offspring mature earlier.