Evolution by Natural Selection
What three ideas/observations influenced Darwin's theory of natural selection?
Passing on traits, acquiring traits, change of Earth over time, struggle for survival among species
Name six characteristics that ALL living things have in common.
made of cells, use energy, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow & develop, have DNA
What is a mass extinction AND
how do scientists use them to mark Earth's history?
A mass extinction occurs when large groups of organisms go extinct at one time; scientists use mass extinctions as divisions between eras.
Name three types of fossils
bones, trace (footprints/dung), preserved in amber, preserved in ice, cast & mold
What characteristics separate the three Domains: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya?
Archaea: prokaryotes, cell walls & DNA w/ unique molecular structure, live in harsh environments, binary fission, no nucleus
Bacteria: prokaryotes, unique molecular structure of cell wall & DNA, binary fission, live in almost any environment, no nucleus
Eukarya: eukaryotic cells, can be single cell or multicellular, cells contain a nucleus & membrane-bound organelles, more complex cell & organism structure
What is an adaptation?
An inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce.
What is homeostasis?
Maintaining stable internal conditions.
These characteristics represent which time period:
Prokaryotes dominated; Cyanobacteria used photosynthesis to make food & released oxygen into the atmosphere; multicellular organisms evolved
Precambrian Time
How do (body) fossils form?
An organism must be buried quickly under sediment; decayed body material is replaced by minerals that harden
What are the two parts of a scientific name & what types of characteristics are used to classify an organism?
genus, species; physical and chemical characteristics
What are two possible outcomes for a species of a significant change in the environment.
Some members of the species will adapt and survive or the entire species/population will go extinct.
What do living things require to survive/live?
air, water, food, shelter/habitat/place to live
Characterized by birds, mammals & flowering plants
Cenozoic Era
How do structural similarities support the idea of evolution?
Organisms with similar structures used for similar purposes may be related, according to some scientists.
In addition to being multicellular. what are three important characteristics of all plants?
cell walls (containing cellulose,) make food by photosynthesis, reproduce sexually and/or asexually
What is Natural Selection?
The process by which organisms that are better adapted to survive changes in their environment will reproduce and pass on those characteristics to their offspring - more than less well-adapted organisms.
Why do organisms need nutrients?
to fuel cell processes for living
Dominated by large reptiles, coniferous forests, and the appearance of the first birds and mammals.
Mesozoic Era
How does similar DNA support the evolutionary hypothesis?
Some scientists believe that organisms with similar DNA sequences are evolutionarily related.
Describe three characteristics of the Kingdom Fungi.
cell walls, absorb nutrients of (usually) dead organisms, single or multicellular, reproduce sexually and/or asexually
What are the four parts of Natural Selection?
overproduction, genetic variation, adaptation, selection
Describe how each type of organism obtains nutrients.
Producer; Consumer; Decomposer
Producer: makes its own food
Consumer: consumes other organisms
Decomposer: breaks down dead and decaying organisms
The Paleozoic Era was characterized by what types of animals and plants?
crawling insects and first land animals; fish first appeared; all major plant groups except flowering plants; forests of ferns
How organisms that have similar embryological stages support the idea of evolution?
Some scientists believe these organisms may have had a common ancestor because of similar development.
Describe at least 4 characteristics of ALL animals.
Heterotrophs (eat other organisms to obtain nutrients,) reproduce sexually occasionally asexually (worms, starfish,) most move, specialized sense organs, no cell walls or chloroplasts