Natural Selection
Evidence for Evolution
Microevolution
Macroevolution
Phylogenetic trees + classification
100
What is natural selection
Process where individuals with favorable traits survive and reproduce more, causing those traits to become more common over time, aka "survival of the fittest"
100
Name one type of evidence for evolution
Anatomy, embryology, biochemistry, or paleontology (fossils)
100
What is microevolution?
Small changes in allele frequency in a population over time
100
What is speciation?
Formation of a new species
100
What is a phylogenetic tree?
Diagram showing evolutionary relationships
200
What is fitness in terms of evolution?
Reproductive success
200
What do homologous structures indicate?
Common ancestry
200
Directional selection
200
Difference between gradual and mass extinction?
Gradual = slow, over time
Mass = rapid, large-scale
200
What does it mean if two organisms share a recent common ancestor?
They are closely related
300
List the four prerequisites of natural selection
Overproduction of offspring, variation, adaptation, and descent with modificaiton
300
What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?
Homologous = same origin/common ancestor
Analogous = different origin/same function
300
Name ONE factor that influences genetic variation/microevolution
Mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, sexual selection, or natural selection
300
What is convergent evolution?
Unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environments
300
Name one thing that scientists can determine from a phylogenetic tree?
Relatedness, order of evolution, or common ancestors
400
A population of insects becomes resistant to a pesticide over time. Explain how natural seletion caused this.
Some insects had resistance, survived and reproduced more, causing the resistance trait to increase
400
Why might scientists use DNA instead of anatomy to determine relationships?
More precise / works when structures aren't obvious / shows genetic similarity
400
A small population loses alleles randomly after a natural disaster. Identify the process and explain why the allele frequencies change.
Genetic drift, caused by random chance and has nothing to do with the fitness of the individuals
400
Two populations become geographically separated. Explain how this can lead to speciation.
The two populations are living in different environments, causing them to evolve differently. Because they are separated from each other, they cannot reproduce, eventually leading to two distinct species.
400
How can you tell which species are most closely related on a phylogenetic tree?
They share the most recent common ancestor (closest node)
500
Explain how environmental change can lead to the appearance or disappearance of traits over time.
Environment changes, different traits are favored, those organisms reproduce more causing allele frequencies to shirt
500
Explain how TWO types of evidence support common ancestry
Must include two types + how they support the theory of evolution
500
Why is genetic variation necessary for survival in changing environments?
Provides different traits, some may be advantageous which allows for adaptation and survival of the population
500
Compare convergent and divergent evolution AND explain what causes each
Convergent = unrelated species becoming similar due to similar environments
Divergenet = related species becoming less similar due to different environments
500
Two organisms look very similar, but DNA analysis shows they do not have many similarities. What evidence should scientists use to classify them?
DNA, because genetic evidence is more reliable for determining evolutionary relationships