Why did the finches of the Galapagos diverge into different species?
The different types of food available led to changes in beak size.
100
These show similar patterns of development in the first few weeks of life
Embryos
100
Darwin's finches on the Galapagos are an example of what type of evolution?
Divergent Evolution or Adaptive Radiation
100
What is the result of random mutations in a species?
Mutations result in increased variation in the species.
100
What are the four principles of natural selection?
Variation, Adaptation, Overproduction of Offspring, Descent with Modification
200
If the conditions of an environment begin to change, which type of reproduction provides an advantage?
Sexual reproduction
200
Paleontologists find an intermediate fossil that shows the link between between land mammals and whales. What is this fossil called?
Intermediate fossil
200
Occurs on a large scale, affecting many species and many populations.
Macroevolution
200
All life forms on Earth have what two things in common?
Nucleic acids (DNA & RNA) and proteins
200
What is the definition of a species?
A group of organisms that have similar characteristics and can interbreed. A species shares the same gene pool.
300
What makes a trait "favorable" for an organism?
The trait must increase the organism's fitness (surviving and having offspring)
300
A human and a chimpanzee have more genes in common than humans and gorillas. What does this indicate?
It indicates that humans and chimps share a more recent common ancestor.
300
What is punctuated equilibrium?
When a species experiences rapid bursts of evolutionary change, followed by long periods of stability.
300
What is the relationship between phenotypes and variation in a species?
The more phenotypes there are in a species, the more variation there is.
300
In a forest, there is a big increase in the beetle population. This demonstrates which principle of natural selection?
Overproduction of offspring?
400
Why does a favorable trait become more prevalent in future generations of a species?
Because the individuals who have the favorable trait are more likely to survive and produce offspring who also have the trait
400
Give an example of homologous structures.
The forelimbs of many vertebrates show very similar bone structure
400
Snakes and worms have similar body shapes, but they do not share a common ancestor. What is this called?
Convergent evolution
400
How does asexual reproduction relate to variation?
Asexual reproduction results in very little variation in the species.
400
In a certain gene allele results in a phenotype that gives an organism better camouflage, what would you expect to happen to the allele frequency of that population over time?
The frequency of the allele would increase.
500
Speciation often results from isolation. What are three ways that species can become isolated from each other?
Geographical, Temporal and Behavioral
500
Give an example of vestigial structures.
Wisdom teeth, appendix and tailbone in humans and Leg bones in whales.
500
Poisonous newts are eaten by a certain species of garter snake, which is immune to its poison. The newts have evolved more toxic poison and the snakes have evolved stronger resistance to it. What is this an example of?
Coevolution
500
What are four ways that variation in a population can arise?
Random mutations, crossing-over, gene shuffling, and recombination of DNA.
500
When new individuals immigrate into a population, what is that called?