Evolution
Natural Selection
Biomes/Adaptations
Evidence for Evolution
Grab Bag/Vocab
100
Who is credited for coming up with the theory of evolution and natural selection?
Charles Darwin
100
What is an adaptation? Give an example.
A change in organisms that allows them to survive in their environment.
Polar bears -white thick fur, and a million others.
100
Which biome would these adaptations best work in?
long roots
ability to store water
long eyelashes to protect eyes from sand
light yellow and brown color
waxy skin to reduce loss of water and to reflect heat
Desert
100
How does DNA provide evidence for evolution?
Scientists can see how close the DNA codes match up in modern organisms and compare the DNA codes of ancient organisms to modern organisms.
100
At which point would the common ancestor of amphibians and rodents be found?
At point - B
200
Charles Darwin discovered many species of finches when he visited the Galapagos Islands. What was different about each species of finches?
Their Beaks
200
What is a mutation?
A change in the DNA sequence that may lead to a new trait.
200
Which biome would these adaptations best work in?
tails that help climb trees
nocturnal to escape the heat
ability to eat bugs and fruit found in trees
green and dark colored to blend in with trees
Tropical Rain Forest
200
How does the fossil record provide evidence of evolution?
Scientists can compare the anatomy of ancient organisms to modern organisms, they can compare homologous structures, and they can look at the evidence for change in environments and evidence of extinctions and how old organisms interacted with each other.
200
What characteristic separates the horse from the wolf?
carnivorous
300
What was the explanation that Charles Darwin gave to explain the different types of beaks each species of finches had?
All of the finches had a common ancestor and each species of finch had adapted different beaks due to the different environments and food sources on each islands.
300
Explain why natural selection is not random.
Mutations and traits may be random, but natural selection is determined by which traits best work in any given environment. The rock pocket mice that lived hundreds of miles away had different DNA mutations, but the environment picked the same trait that was successful in the new dark rock.
300
Which biome would these adaptations best work in?
adapted to a short growing season
darker leaves to absorb energy from the sun
hibernation in winter
thicker fur
fur that changes to white in the winter
tundra/arctic
300
How does embryology provide evidence for evolution?
By comparing embryos, scientists can show that most organisms start out with similar structures (they look alike). As the embryos develop, scientists can infer which organisms may have common ancestors by how they develop. Chicks & turtles, fish & salamanders.
300
What is a vestigial structure? Give an example.
a body part that has no known function but may have been used by a common ancestor.
appendix
tailbone
whale's back leg bone
wisdom teeth
wings on flightless birds
400
What is the catalyst, or thing that makes organisms need to adapt or evolve? Give an example.
A change in the environment -
Change in temperature/weather, food source, predators, disease, etc.
400
If the annual rainfall in a desert were to continually increase over 100 years, what type of adaptations might you see evolve in some of the plants, insects, or animals?
A change in color from tan to green, larger leaves, webbed feet, ability to swim, etc.
400
Name 3 of the 4 biomes that are in Utah.
Desert
Alpine
Wetlands
Forests
400
How does comparing anatomy provide evidence for evolution?
By comparing homologous structures of current and ancient organisms, scientists can infer common ancestors and show the gradual evolution of a species - like the horse or whale.
400
What is a homologous structure? Give an example.
Body parts of different species that have a similar structure but have different functions.
A Bat wing, Human arm, Dolphin flipper, Cat leg
500
Explain survival of the fittest.
Organisms whose adaptations allow them to survive to reproduce and pass on their traits are the fittest for their environment.
500
What is the difference between natural selection and artificial selection?
In artificial selection - people decide what traits are desired and bread for those traits.
Natural selection - nature chooses what traits best work in the environment and those traits are passed to offspring.
500
List 5 main biomes.
grassland
forest
desert
alpine
tundra
savanna
tropical rainforest
aaquatic biomes include both freshwater & marine
coral Reefs
500
List the 5 lines of evidence for evolution that we discussed.
DNA – Genetics
Direct Observation. Bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, peppered moths, and rock pocket mice.
Comparative Anatomy – Homologous structures/Analogous structures/Vestigial structures
Fossil Record
Embryology
500
What is an analogous structure? Give an example.
structures in different species that are built differently, but have the same function.
Bat wings &insect wings - Fish fins & Wale flippers
