Biology: Evolution, Origin of Life, and Cell Development

What is the sequence of biological processes from DNA to traits?

DNA 🡪 RNA 🡪 protein 🡪 trait

What does the term 'abiogenesis' refer to?

Life forming from non-living materials.

Who developed the 'Primordial Soup' hypothesis?

Oparin

What did Oparin's hypothesis suggest about the origin of life?

Simple organic molecules could form from inorganic compounds and life originated in water/oceans.

What experiment did Miller and Urey conduct?

They mimicked Earth's early atmosphere and successfully converted carbon into amino acids.

What is biogenesis?

The process by which living organisms produce new life (reproduction).

What was Francesco Redi's experiment designed to disprove?

Spontaneous generation.

What were the three conditions in Redi's experiment?

One open container (control), one covered with cloth, and one sealed with a lid.

What was Redi's conclusion about maggots?

Maggots did not spontaneously generate from rotting meat; they came from flies laying eggs on it.

What did Louis Pasteur's experiment demonstrate?

Microorganisms come from dust and other microorganisms in the air, not from spontaneous generation.

What was the purpose of Pasteur's S-shaped flask experiment?

To test if microorganisms reproduced through spontaneous generation.

What is Pasteurization?

The process of sterilizing food to kill microorganisms.

What was the condition of Earth's early atmosphere?

Hot, lots of carbon dioxide, toxic chemicals, and absence of atmospheric oxygen.

What is the difference between abiogenesis and biogenesis?

Abiogenesis is the formation of life from non-living materials, while biogenesis is the production of new life by living organisms.

What did Pasteur observe after boiling the broth in his experiment?

The broth stayed clear after boiling, indicating no microorganisms were present.

What happened when Pasteur broke the neck of the flask?

The broth became cloudy, indicating the presence of microorganisms from the air.

How long ago did Earth form?

4.5 billion years ago.

What is the significance of the term 'spontaneous generation'?

It refers to the long-held belief that life could arise from non-living matter.

What is one key condition for abiogenesis to occur according to Oparin?

The early atmosphere provided conditions suitable for the formation of simple organic molecules.

What did Redi's experiment reveal about the origin of maggots?

Maggots originate from flies, not from the meat itself.

What did Pasteur's experiment contribute to microbiology?

It provided evidence against spontaneous generation and established principles for sterilization.

When did life first emerge on Earth?

3.8 billion years ago

From what type of ancestor did present-day cells evolve?

A common prokaryotic ancestor

What are the two main types of prokaryotes?

Archaebacteria and Eubacteria

What type of cells were the first true cells?

Anaerobic, heterotrophic prokaryotes

What does 'anaerobic' mean?

An environment that lacks oxygen

What does 'heterotrophic' mean?

Organisms that consume inorganic compounds for food

What is an example of an organism that lived in harsh environments?

Thermophiles (a type of Archaebacteria)

What type of prokaryotes emerged after environmental changes?

Anaerobic, photosynthetic prokaryotes

What organism is known for creating its own food and releasing oxygen?

Cyanobacteria

What type of prokaryotes developed after the addition of atmospheric oxygen?

Aerobic prokaryotes

Give an example of an aerobic prokaryote.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

How did most membrane-bound organelles originate?

From the folding-in of the plasma membrane

What is the Endosymbiotic Hypothesis?

It describes how large host cells ingested bacteria and became dependent on each other for survival.

What organelles evolved from endosymbiosis?

Mitochondria and chloroplasts

What are two features of mitochondria and chloroplasts that support the endosymbiotic theory?

They reproduce like prokaryotes and contain DNA & ribosomes like prokaryotes.

What is the sequence of cell evolution from the first to the last?

1st: Anaerobic, heterotrophic prokaryote; 2nd: Anaerobic, photosynthetic prokaryote; 3rd: Aerobic prokaryote; 4th: Aerobic eukaryotes & photosynthetic eukaryotes; 5th: Multicellular eukaryotes.

What is the significance of increasing size and complexity in cell evolution?

It led to the development of multicellular eukaryotes.

What was the role of the first cells in Earth's atmosphere?

They contributed to the increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

What is the theory of evolution?

A theory that explains how species traits change over time.

Who created the evolutionary hypothesis named 'Use or Disuse of Organs'?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

What does Lamarck's hypothesis state?

Organisms acquire or lose traits during their lifetime, and these acquired traits are passed onto offspring.

Who is known as the Father of Evolution?

Charles Darwin

What significant work did Charles Darwin publish in 1859?

On the Origin of Species

What did Darwin observe about finches on the Galápagos Islands?

They had different beak shapes that matched the different food sources on each island.

What is the main process by which species evolve according to Darwin?

Natural Selection

What are the four main points of Darwin's theory of evolution?

1) Variations of traits exist within populations. 2) Competition for resources. 3) Multiple offspring. 4) Natural Selection.

What does 'Survival of the Fittest' refer to?

It refers to the idea that organisms with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

What is an adaptation?

A heritable trait that suits an organism to its natural function in the environment.

What are the three types of adaptations?

1) Structural adaptations. 2) Behavioral adaptations. 3) Physiological adaptations.

What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?

Artificial selection is humans selecting traits, while natural selection is the environment selecting beneficial traits for survival.

What is an example of structural adaptation?

Defensive structures, camouflage, and mimicry.

What is an example of behavioral adaptation?

Herding or schooling behavior.

What is an example of physiological adaptation?

Enzymes or hemoglobin.

What does natural selection require to exist within a population?

Variation among individuals.

What is meant by 'overproduction' in the context of natural selection?

Organisms produce many offspring to ensure the survival of the species.

What is the significance of competition in natural selection?

Organisms compete for limited resources, and the best adapted will survive.

What is the role of the environment in natural selection?

The environment selects organisms with the most beneficial traits for survival.

Who is credited with developing the theory of natural selection?

Charles Darwin

What is evolution?

A change in a species over time.

What are the two types of selection that drive evolution?

Artificial selection and natural selection.

What is artificial selection?

A process where humans select which species to mass produce based on variation provided by nature.

Provide an example of artificial selection.

Dog breeds.

What is natural selection?

A gradual, non-random process by which traits become more or less common in a population to adjust to their environment.

What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

Inherited characteristics that increase an organism's chance of survival.

Give an example of a successful adaptation.

Porcupine's quills.

What are the two types of evidence that support evolution?

Direct evidence and indirect evidence.

What is mimicry?

A structural adaptation that enables one species to imitate another species that is harmful.

Provide an example of mimicry.

A moth that resembles a leaf or has owl's eyes.

What is camouflage?

An adaptation that allows a species to blend in with its environment.

Provide an example of camouflage.

A lizard blending in with a tree.

What is pesticide resistance in insects?

Some insects acquire immunity to insecticides and pass those genes to the next generation, leading to a resistant population.

What is antibiotic resistance in bacteria?

Bacteria that survive antibiotic treatment reproduce, leading to a population that is resistant to antibiotics.

What is a fossil?

Traces or preserved remains of ancient life.

What is relative dating?

Determining the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with other fossils in different layers of rock.

What is absolute dating of fossils?

Using radioactive decay to assign an absolute age to rocks and fossils.

What is biochemical similarity?

Comparing amino acid sequences in different organisms to determine their relatedness.

What are homologous structures?

Structures in different organisms that have the same structure but different functions, indicating common ancestry.

What are analogous structures?

Structures in different organisms that have the same function but different structures, showing no close relationship.

What are vestigial structures?

Organs that species have with little or no use, which may have been used by an ancestor.

What is embryo comparison?

Comparing embryos of different species to find similarities that indicate common ancestry.

What is adaptive radiation?

When a species changes in order to adapt to its environment.

Provide an example of adaptive radiation.

Darwin's finches.

What is the smallest unit of evolution?

Populations

Why can't acquired traits in an individual be passed onto offspring?

Because only genetic traits can be inherited.

What are the four main mechanisms of evolution?

Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Mutations, Natural Selection

What is Genetic Drift?

Random allele changes in small populations.

How does Genetic Drift affect small populations?

The effect of genetic drift is larger when there are fewer copies of an allele.

What is Gene Flow?

The movement of genes into or out of a population.

What can a change in genotype lead to?

A change in phenotype.

What role do mutations play in evolution?

Mutations cause changes in DNA that may lead to new phenotypes and increase genetic diversity.

What is Natural Selection?

Environmental changes act as selecting forces on phenotypes.

What is Stabilizing Selection?

Average phenotype is favored in a population.

What is Directional Selection?

One of the extreme phenotypes is favored.

What is Disruptive Selection?

Both extreme phenotypes are favored.

What is Sexual Selection?

The attraction of mates towards each other to gain traits that enhance survival.

What is Artificial Selection?

When humans select for or against traits in organisms.

What is Divergent Evolution?

One ancestral species evolves into many different species with distinct features.

What is Convergent Evolution?

Unrelated organisms evolve similar structural adaptations due to similar environments.

What is Coevolution?

Two different species evolve in response to changes in each other over time.