| Evidence of Evolution | ||
| #1 | What is the fossil record? | The fossil record is the information contained in fossils located in sequential layers of rock |
| #2 | How does the fossil record support the concept of evolution? | Fossil record shows the evolution of species as they change over time, including the extinction of species and the evolution of new species |
| #3 | List two pieces of anatomical evidence. | Vestigial and Homologous structures |
| #4 | What are homologous structures? | Homologous strucutres are those structures in two or more different species that may have different functions but arose from identical cells |
| #5 | How does our understanding of DNA support evolution? |
Species that are closely related have very similar DNA sequences while species that are distantly related have less similar DNA sequences. This supports evolution, as those species that have simlar DNA sequences likely arose from a common ancestor more recently than those with very different DNA sequences |
| Who the heck are Lamarck and Darwin? | ||
| #1 | He developed a theory called "inheritance of Acquired Traits". | Lamarck |
| #2 | What is the name of Darwin's theory of evolution | Theory of Natural Selection |
| #3 | Describe 5 Major points in Darwin's Theory | Descent with modification; organisms reproduce more offspring than can survive; Organisms compete for liimited resources; There is natural variation in populations; Variations in traits can be inherited and provide some organisms advantages over others in terms of survival and reproduction |
| #4 | Compare Darwin's and Lamarck's theory of evolution | Both scientists described variation in populations and change in populations over time. However, Lamarck's theory was based on the concept that individuals could acquire traits that helped them survive and that those traits would be passed on to the offspring. Darwin thought that only the traits organisms are born with can be passed down to offspring |
| #5 | Describe why the Theory of Natural Selection supports the development of different species of finch on the Galapagos Islands |
The different finches on each of the Galapaos were similar yet had very different beaks and survived and reproduced on different types of food. Therefore, Darwin proposed that competition for food on each of the islands promoted some adapations over others, creating species of finches with different types of beaks. |
| Biological Adaptations and Natural Selection | ||
| #1 | Define biological adaptations | Adaptations are those characteristics that increase a species ability to survive and reproduce |
| #2 | Describe why adaptations apply to populations and not organisms | Adaptations apply to populations as they represent changes in species behavior or physical appearance that happen on a population rather than an individual. If one individual has a variation in phenotype, it doesn't become an adaptation unless it becomes a widespread change in many members of the population and is passed down over generations, eventually resulting in a change in allele frequency. |
| #3 | Describe the adaptations that occurred in the evolution of the horses leg | The horse's leg evolved from a 5 toed short statured animal to a taller animal with one long toe. These were adaptations because they allowed the horse to escape predators by running on the flat plains. |
| #4 | Why is genetic variation essential for adaptation to occur? |
Genetic variation must be present so that different phenotypes are selected for when subject to different environmental pressures (climate change, habitat loss, introduction of predators and competitors) |
| #5 | What role does adaptation play in natural selection? |
Adaptation is the species response to change in the environment based on the natural variation in a species. Adaptation must occur across a population as a single change in an organism will not result in evolution by natural selection. Natural selection depends on variation in a population. If adaptation is not occurring, that species will not be changing over time and evolution by natural selection will not occur. |
| Genetics, Allele Frequency, and Natural Selection | ||
| #1 | Define Allele Frequency | Allele frequency is the percent of the population with particular form of a gene |
| #2 | How can evolution be defined in terms of allele frequency? | Evolution is a change in allele frequency over time. |
| #3 | Define "gene pool". | Gene pool is the combined genetic information of a population. In other words, the amount of genetic variation in a population, the occurrence of various alleles in a population. |
| #4 | How does allele frequency relate to Natural selection? | The most frequent allele will likely be for a trait that is most favorable to the environmental situation. That allele will mostly likely increase the likelihood the species will survive and reproduce. |
| #5 | Does natural selection act on the genotype or phenotype of a species during evolution? |
Evolution by natural selection depends on the phenotype, as it is the physical appearance or expressed trait that will increase the likelihood of a species survival and reproduction. |
| Evolution Extras | ||
| #1 | Define the term evolution | Evolution is the change in species or populations over time; further, evolution is defined as the descent of modern organisms from common ancestors |
| #2 | How do we know humans and dinosaurs were not alive at the same time? | We know that humans and dinosaurs were not alive at the same time because the fossil record indicates there was a significant gap between the more recent appearance of human fossils and the much earlier disappearnce of the dinosaur fossils. |
| #3 | Does evolution occur in individuals or populations? Why? | A single change in an organism does not suggest that the change will be benefit the species as a whole; for a change to benefit the species and be passed down to future generations, the change must occur in greater frequency over time and promote the survival and reproduction of those individuals with that characteristic. |
| #4 | Describe an example of evolution occurring in modern times. | Antibiotic resistant bacteria are developing at a rapid pace due to the over prescription of anti biotics. When antibiotics are given, most of the bacteria will die; however, if the antibiotic is stopped too soon or given erratically, some bacteria may remain with resistant alleles. Those bacteria can multiply and produce a population of antibiotic resistant bacteria. |
| #5 | Compare Natural Selelction to Artificial Selection |
Natural selection is controlled by nature - environmental pressures, natural variation in a species. Artificial selection is controlled by humans using the natural variation in species. Artificial selection is used to refine traits that fulfill specific human needs while natural selection encourages evolution to create species that fit specific environmental situations. |
| Final Question | |
| How do insects develop pesticide resistance and what does this have to do with evolution? | Insect populations that are treated with pesticides will develop pesticide resistance because individuals with mutations that protect them from the pesticide will survive and reproduce. All other individuals will die. The more the pesticide is applied, the pesticide resistant organisms will become more common. The pesticide resistant organisms will contribute more genetic material to the next generation. This is an example of the "survival of the fittest", which is a principle of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. This principle explains how favorable adaptations can become common in a species, and over a significant amount of time can create entirely new species through the process of evolution. |