Biol 11
Evolution Review
Vocabulary:
Evolution
gene-pool
allele
natural selection
species
genotype
DNA
mutation
gradualism
Relative frequency
analogous
homologous
Differential migration (gene flow)
adaptation
Fossil
geological time
genetic drift
phenotype
punctuated equilibrium
fitness
common descent
vestigial organ
Fill in the blanks:
1. A common descent hypothesis offers a plausible explanation for
among organisms.
structures are similar in structure (not
function) because they were inherited from a common ancestor, such as the forelimbs in
birds, whales, horses and monkeys. The wing of a bird and insect are
structures; they are all adaptations for flying that are structurally unrelated.
2. Almost all living organisms use the same basic
molecules,
including DNA, ATP, amino acid sequences of proteins, etc. Their similarity can be
explained by
from a common ancestor.
3. In science, the word
is reserved for conceptual schemes that
are supported by a large number of observations and have not yet been found lacking. A
is all members of a single species occupying a particular area at
the same time. The various alleles of all the gene loci in all the members make up a
for the population.
4. Sexual reproduction in and of itself cannot bring about a change in the
frequencies of a gene pool.
5. Mutations can cause evolutionary change by providing a
,
which underlie all the mechanisms that produce variation. Genetic
refers
to changes in allele frequencies of a gene pool due to chance. It occurs when, by
chance only, certain members of a population reproduce and pass on their genes to the
next generation.
6.
is the movement of alleles between populations by
migration. Gene flow between tow populations keeps their gene pools
and prevents close adaptation to a local environment. Inbreeding
the proportion of heterozygotes and increases the proportion of homozygotes and
recessive abnormalities.
7. A
is defined as a group of interbreeding sub-populations that
share a gene pool and are isolated reproductively from other species.
Occurs after a geographic barrier prevents gene flow between populations that originally
belonged to a single species.
8.
radiation refers to the proliferation of a species by adaptation to
different ways of life, as seen by the finches on the Galapagos Islands. A time of limited
change in a lineage is called
. According to the
model
1
Evolution Review
Biol 11
of evolution, change is very slow but steady within a lineage with few transitional links.
The
model of evolution states that there
is a stasis (period of equilibrium) punctuated by speciation that occurs relatively rapidly
with few transitional links as fossils.
9. Charles Darwin’s most significant contribution to evolution was his theory of
. according to Darwin, individual members of a species
in physical characteristics that could be passed from one generation to the next. The
members of all species
with each other for limited
resources. The ones that survive and contribute to the evolutionary future of the species
are better
(the so-called survival of the fittest). Such a process is said to be
because the organisms do not strive to adapt themselves
to the environment but the environment acts on them to select those individuals that are
best adapted.
10. Teleological statements simply imply that evolution is pre-directed or that a species
shapes its own future rather than the environment acting on them to select those
individuals that are best adapted. Correct each of the teleological statements below.
Teleological Statements:
a. Birds have beaks so that they can eat seeds.
b. Plants have solved the problems of land existence.
c. Pesticides cause bacteria to become resistant.
Correct Scientific Statements:
a.
b.
c.
True or False Questions:
If you believe the statement to be false, rewrite the statement as a true one.
1. Sexual reproduction, by itself, can alter the allele frequencies of a gene pool.
Answer:
Restatement:
2. Random gene mutations are the ultimate source of variation because they provide
new alleles.
Answer:
Restatement:
3. Whenever reproductive isolation develops, speciation has occurred.
Answer:
Restatement:
2
Evolution Review
Biol 11
3
Matching:
Match the following terms to each of the statements below.
a. fitness
e. gene pool
i. mutation
b. homologous
f. phenotype
j. genetic drift
c. analogous
g. genotype
k. natural selection
d. population
h. alleles
l. evolution
provides new alleles for variation
environmental pressure chooses which individuals will survive
populations evolve due to chance
change in relative allelic frequencies of a gene pool
What the genotype will look like
all the alleles in all members of a population
alternative forms of a gene
all members of a single species occupying a particular area at the same time
type of genes found in an organism for a trait
structures have the same function, different origin
structures have the same origin, different function
ability to be successful in a particular environment
1. Fossils can be dated by the
dating method, which relies on
radioactive techniques to assign an actual date to a fossil.
2. Who is Darwin and what is he famous for?
3. When Darwin traveled to South America, he was amazed at the
he found in forest. When he traveled further, he discovered that even more species had
become
from the earth. It is estimated that more than
of all the species that ever existed are
.
4. Explain how polar bears are better “fit” to the Arctic environment than grizzly bears
are.
Biol 11
Evolution Review
5. What evidence have you studied that supports the theory of “common descent”?
6. Describe a possible scenario to explain how penguins have adapted to their
environment.
7. List at least 3 difference types of evidence that support the theory of evolution.
8. Explain the difference between relative dating and absolute dating.
9. How old do they think the Earth is?
10. Explain why sedimentary rock is the best place to find fossils.
11. Explain this quote: The fossil record shows that change (in organisms) followed
change on Earth.
12. Why do scientists use embryology as a piece of evidence for evolution?
4
Biol 11
Evolution Review
13. Analogous structures are structures that have the same function, but have a
different underlying structure. For example, butterfly wings and birds wings. How do
these compare to homologous structures?
14. Provide as many examples as you can think of for vestigial organs. What do all of
these structures have in common?
15. Why do scientists look to our chemical composition in an effort to support the theory
of evolution?
16. Evolution is just a theory. Why do we (as science educators) spend so much time
trying to explain it to our students?
17. Describe the difference between Lamark’s theory of how animals adapted, to
Darwin/Wallace’s theory of natural selection.
18. Compare artificial selection to natural selection. Why do scientists use artificial
selection as yet another piece of evidence for the theory of evolution?
5
Biol 11
Evolution Review
19. What is the “Mathusian Doctrine” and how does it relate to the theory of evolution?
20. Explain the phrase: survival of the fittest”
21. Why are the “peppered moths” another piece of evidence evolution?
22. What is the “raw material” for natural selection? Where does this “raw material”
originate? (how did it get there in the first place?)
23. “Translate” the textbook definition into commonly used words or phrases.
24. How do we define a species?
25. Why are microbiologists so concerned about the extensive use of antibiotics in
medicine today?
26. Why can’t more than one species occupy the same niche for a long period of time?
6
Biol 11
Evolution Review
27. Why is it necessary for isolation (or separation) of populations for speciation to
occur?
28. What is reproductive isolation?
29. Briefly summarize the 5 steps to Speciation using a different hypothetical scenario
than the one that they use in the book. (i.e) don’t use finches as the example.
30. Compare and contrast the terms “divergent and convergent evolution”. (divergent
evolution is also called
) Use a diagram to aid your
discussion.
31. What are analogous structures?
7
Biol 11
Evolution Review
32. Describe the differences between natural selection and genetic drift. Show how they
both can lead to evolution of a species.
33. How is mutation related to evolution?
34. Explain ”migration” in terms of evolution. How does “migration” lead to perpetuation
of the same species, while “differential migration” leads can lead to speciation.
35. Why is the horseshoe crab, Limulus called a ”living fossil”?
36. Compare and contrast gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Use diagrams to
aid in your discussion. The other name for gradualism is
8