Chapter 1
What is a scientific hypothesis?
A testable and falsifiable proposed explanation for a specific observation
Why is Charles Darwin important?
Because he discovered Natural Selection
What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
A genotype is an organism's internal genetic code, while a phenotype is the observable physical expression of that code
What is the best definition of speciation?
The formation of a new species
What is a common ancestor?
Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages
Why can't science be used to solve arguments about morality or art?
A scientific fact is objective and based on empirical, measurable evidence that anyone can observe and replicate
What did Lamarck mean by the inheritance of acquired characteristics?
Lamarck believed that species can pass down traits that they acquired to their offspring
How can mutations contribute to evolution?
Mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation
What is sympatry?
Two or more related species or populations occupy the same or overlapping geographic areas
How do fossils provide evidence for evolution?
Displays a chronological sequence of how organisms have changed, diversified, and adapted
What are the 3 theories fundamental to biology?
Cell Theory, Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, and Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
What is the difference between Evolution and Natural Selection?
Evolution is change in populations across generations, while natural selection is one mechanism that can cause evolutionary change
What is the difference between a mutation and an inherited allele?
A mutation is a permanent change in a DNA sequence, whereas an inherited allele is a specific version of a gene passed down from a parent to an offspring
How can geographic isolation contribute to speciation?
Stops gene flow and allows populations to evolve independently
What is a transitional fossil?
Any fossilized remain of a life form that exhibits traits common to both an ancestral group and its derived descendant group
What are the 5 characteristics of all living organisms?
Cells, Replication, Information, Energy, Evolution
Why is high genetic diversity within a single wildlife population crucial for its long-term survival in a changing environment?
It increases the probability that some individuals will possess traits enabling them to survive environmental shifts or novel diseases
What is a population bottleneck?
A sharp, sudden reduction in the size of a population that drastically lowers genetic diversity
What is one downside of the Morphological Species Concept?
Different species can look identical, and members of the same species can look different
Put these in order from oldest to youngest: Cenozoic, Precambrian, Mesozoic, Paleozoic
Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic
What are the 8 main biological classifications?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species
why is saying "organisms evolve because they need to" an inaccurate description of natural selection?
Because evolution is not a conscious or directed process
How can non-random mating affect a population?
By altering genotype frequencies over time without necessarily changing the overall allele frequencies
How do prezygotic isolation and postzygotic isolation differ?
Prezygotic barriers block fertilization before a zygote forms, while postzygotic barriers act after a zygote forms
Why doesn't the absence of a particular organism's fossils prove that the organism never existed?
Because fossilization is an extremely rare event