Ch.15 Evolution

Flashcards created off of Ch.15 study guide and ppt slide presentation.

Carolus Linnaeus

Created a classification system for organisms, aiding in the understanding of biological diversity.

Georges Cuvier

Advocated for catastrophism, showing that extinctions occurred and supporting the idea of ancient life forms.

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck

Proposed an early theory of evolution based on acquired characteristics; emphasized the idea that species change over time.

Charles Lyell

Introduced uniformitarianism, suggesting that the same geological processes have been shaping the earth over long periods, which supports an ancient earth view.

Thomas Malthus

Discussed population growth and resource

Catastrophism

Asserts that the Earth's geology and life have been shaped primarily by sudden and violent events, such as floods and volcanic eruptions.

Uniformitarianism

Argues that the same processes observed today, like erosion and sedimentation, have been occurring in the same manner throughout Earth’s history.

What contributed to Charles darwin’s experience to his theory of descent with modification?

Education, Beagle, Fossils, Biogeography

Darwins Education

Received a diverse education in various sciences, laying the groundwork for his species

How many observations did Darwin have about Natural Selection

4

Darwin's Observation of Variation

Organisms exhibit variation that can be passed from one generation to the next—that is, they have heritable variation.

Competition for Resources

Organisms compete for available resources in their environment.

Reproductive Success Variation

Individuals within a population differ in terms of their reproductive success.

Adaptation to Environment

Organisms become adapted to conditions as the environment changes.

What evidence of selection is used to support Natural Selection?

Artificial selection, Galapagos finches, Peppered moths, and Antibiotic resistance

Artificial Selection

Human-directed breeding exhibiting rapid changes in species.

Galapagos Finches (Grants)

Observations showing rapid evolution of beak size in response to food availability.

Peppered Moths

Color variation demonstrating natural selection during the Industrial Revolution.

Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteria evolving to resist antibiotics, illustrating rapid selection.

Evidences for Evolution (Universal Common Descent)

Fossil record, biogeography, Anatomical, molecular, and developmental evidence

Fossil

Remains or traces of organisms from the past, typically preserved in rock.

Transitional fossils

Fossils that exhibit traits common to both an ancestral group and its derived descendant group.

Tiktaalik

A transitional fossil between fish and tetrapods, showcasing limb development.

Archaeopteryx

Intermediate between reptiles and birds, displaying both avian and dinosaur features.

Ambulocetus

A transitional form showing evolution from land mammals to whales.

Relative dating method

Determining the age of fossils based on their position in layers of rock.

Absolute dating method

Using radioactive decay to determine the specific age of fossils.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

Marsupial history

Study of how marsupials are primarily found in Australia and the Americas, supporting evolution and dispersal patterns.

Homologous structures

Anatomical features that are similar due to shared ancestry.

Analogous structures

Features that serve similar functions but do not share a common evolutionary origin.

Vestigial structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution (e.g., human appendix).

Biochemical (Molecular) Evidence

Evidence from the similarity in genetic material (DNA & RNA homology) and protein structures among different organisms, indicating common ancestry.

DNA & RNA homology

Similarities in genetic material across species indicating common ancestry.

Protein homology

Similarities in protein structures among different organisms.

Developmental Evidence

Evidence from the study of embryos and gene regulation that indicates common ancestry among species.

Hox genes

Genes that control the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis, indicating common ancestry.

Embryology

The study of embryonic development, revealing similarities among embryos of different species.

Misunderstanding of Transitional Fossils

Critics often misinterpret transitional fossils, failing to recognize them as indicative of evolutionary change between species.

Linear Evolution Misconception

Some suggest that evolution follows a linear path, whereas it actually resembles a branching tree with multiple pathways of descent.

Traits and Neutral Evolution

It's a misconception that all traits must have an advantageous purpose; many traits can exist neutrally without providing a benefit.

Evolution as a Theory Misunderstanding

A common criticism is the perception that evolution is 'just a theory,' overlooking the extensive evidence supporting it across multiple scientific disciplines.