Honors Biology 9 Unit 6 Study Guide

vestigial structure as evidence for evolution

They provide strong evidence of common ancestry and can help us trace the evolutionary origin of the species with vestigial structure

Sexual selection

the selection of mates based on heritable traits

True signal

Attractive trait that shows a male is healthy and strong genetically

False signal (aka exaggerated signal)

Attractive trait in a male that lies about being strong and healthy genetically

Base pairing

Adenine+ Thymine, Cytosine+ Guanine

evolution

change in characteristics of populations over time

population

the amount of a species in a given area

natural selection

when beneficial traits for an environment become more common

heritable

passed from a parent to offspring via genetic material (gene)

trait

specific characteristics of an individual

biodiversity

total of the variety of organisms in the biosphere

adaptive radiation

process by which a single species of a small group of species evolves into several different forms

speciation

formation of a new species

genotype

the genes that pass on inherited traits

phenotype

physical trait from your genes

genetic material

nucleic acids like DNA and RNA which contains genes

characteristics

physical traits made from proteins

inheritable

a trait encoded in DNA passed from parent to offspring

comparative anatomy as evidence for evolution

the study of similarities in the anatomical structure of different species. It provides evidence of relativity between different organisms

proteins and amino acids as evidence for evolution

similar proteins show species can be related

species

organisms that can breed and produce offspring with some exceptions

acquired trait

a trait an organism obtains during its life but can't pass down via genes

genes

a sequence of bases that code for instructions to make proteins

organisms

all living things

5 conditions required for natural selection: Variation

the result of random mutations or copying errors that arise when cells divide as new organisms

5 conditions required for natural selection: inheritance

when organisms reproduce, they pass on their DNA - the set of instructions encoded in living cells for building bodies - to their offspring

5 conditions required for natural selection: selection

beneficial traits for the current environmental conditions become more common. Those traits are inherited and become more common over generations

5 conditions required for natural selection: time

advantageous traits help some individuals survive and reproduce over many generations

5 conditions required for natural selection: adaptation

heritable characteristics that increase an organisms ability to survive in an environment

fossil record

fossil records show that species have changed over time

biogeography

island species have unique characteristics compared to ancestors on the main land

comparative anatomy

many species share similar physical features they inherited from a common ancestor

genetics

DNA comparisons show how related species are

Molecular methods

amino acids and protein comparisons show how related species are

direct observation

evolution can be directly observed in organisms with short life cycles

vestigial structure

organs or body parts that have lost most of there original structure

Sexual selection can lead to extreme versions of traits because of. . .

reproduction, choice, becomes more drastic

ex. peacocks

evolution can be defined as . . .

the change in the inheritable, heritable, and genetic characteristics

beneficial characteristics that evolve can be defined as. . .

genetic traits that help organisms survive and traits best adapted to the current environment

Evidence of evolution

amino acid similarities, protein similarities, DNA similarities, and fossils

fossils are evidence for evolution because. . .

they show change over time and they are a common and reliable source for DNA from ancient organisms

vestigial structures in humans
*there will be a pic on the test

moving ears, hair on body, 3rd molar, vermiform appendix, pointed canine, caudal vertebrae

evolution ins influenced by the variation of traits by. . .

an increase in beneficial traits, traits that help you survive become more common, and environmental conditions

Darwin observed the similarities between. . .

fossil and modern organisms, organisms in different locations, and environmental conditions like the type of food available (not DNA)