Evolution Exam 1

What is science?

it is open to change, it is testable,and it is based on data

Misconceptions

Organisms evolve adaptations the "need"

Misconceptions

Evolution is just a theory

Similar traits may exist for two reasons

Homology and Analogy

Homology

similar traits inherited from common ancestors

Analogy

Natural selection favored similar adaptations in similar environments

convergent evolution

the independent origin of similar traits in separate lineages

structure of the flu virus

primes immune system to make antibodies

Replication of genetic material results in mutations

virus —> Host cell —> mutated virus leaves

Adaptations

traits that have evolved by natural selection

What would Jean-Baptiste Lamark and Charles Darwin have agreed upon

One generation can pass on its traits to the next

Both Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace traveled to distant places and collected biological specimens during their youths

True

Malay bird-wing butterflies are to Wallace as are to Darwin

Galapagos

Who would have agreed with Charles Lyell that the Earth was very old

James Hutton

Linneaus devised a hierarchical organization of lifes diversity. He thought it reflected a divine plan. How would Darwin and Wallace have explain these hierarchical categories

They resulted from common descent

Linneaus

rejected evolutionary change but accepted creationism

A paleontologist who works in Montana specializing in dinosaur nesting sites has predicted to occurrence of dinosaur nesting sites on other continents. Is this possible

If the same rock unit occur on different continents then it is possible

Which figure made spectacular fossil fins in early 1800s

Mary Anning

Suppose you knew an individual who experienced an unfortunate accident and lost a limb. According to strict Lamarckian thinking

the offspring of that individual would lack the same limb

Earliest signs of life

oldest potential evidence of life dates to 4.1bya

Most organisms

do not fossilize

Phylogenetic tree

A visual representation of the evolutionary history of populations, genes, and species

Parsimony

The idea that most likely explanation is the simplest,can be used to choose among possible phylogenetic reconstructions

Principle of maximum parsimony

alternative requiring the fewest evolutionary steps is usually best, can be used to choose the best amoung multiple possible phylogene

Homoplasy

similar character state because of convergent evolution or evolutionary reversal

phylogeny

reveals how tetrapod traits evolved over time,allow to trace the transition of bones from jaw to ear

Feathers

evolved before flight of other functions

Exaptation

natural selection co-opts a trait for a new function

somatic mutations

affect cells in the body of an organism, can affect phenotype, not heritable

germ-line mutations

affect gametes, heritable and relevant to evolution

genotype

the genetic make up of an individual (inherited by an organism)

phenotype

an observable measurable characteristic of an organism

Dominant alleles

produce same phenotype no matter what

recessive alleles

produce characteristic phenotype only when homozygous

polyphenic trait

single genotype produces multiple phenotypes depending on environmentomn, a type of phenotypic plasticity

omnivores

animals that eat both plants and animals

carnivores

animals that primarily eat other animals

Vp

Phenotypic variation

V_G

Genetic Variation

V_E

Environmental Variation

Mutation in regulatory region statement is true

They can alter the tissue in which a gene is expressed

Suppose that the sex of the offspring of a species of fish is determined by water temperature. In this case, sex is an example of a

polyphenism

Misconceptions

Organisms are perfectly adapted to their environment

earliest signs of life

oldest stromatolite (bacteria) fossil date to 3.45 bya