Review Sheet
Biology 2
Evolution (chapters 15, 16)
Key Words
Natural Selection
mimicry
Transitional fossil
Vestigial Structures
Homologous Structures
Hox genes
Speciation
genetic drift
gene flow
Population
Geographic Isolation
Temporal Isolation
Behavioral isolation
Reproductive Isolation
Gene pool
Objectives
1) List the basic components of Darwin’s theory
2) What is meant by the phrase “last common ancestor?”
3) Explain how natural selection applies to numerous situations: Explain these two for practice:
a) antibiotic (drug) resistant bacteria (see figure in the online notes)
b) how a fish population can evolve to resemble the rocky bottom of a lake where it lives
4) Explain how each of the following can provide support for evolution:
a) the fossil record (especially transitional fossils)
b) homologous and vestigial structures
c) embryological similarities
d) biochemical (DNA, RNA, amino acid sequences)
5) Why are mutations important in the process of evolution?
6) Explain what Hox genes are and how they play a major role in the evolution of new body forms
7) Explain why an individual cannot evolve, but a population can. Use any example to illustrate your
reasoning.
8) What is the gene pool of a population and what must happen to it in order for evolution to occur?
9) List and describe the factors that cause changes to the gene pool of a population
10) Explain the sequence of events that must happen in order for speciation to occur with a population.
11) Explain the difference between geographic, temporal, and behavioral isolation and how these can
lead to reproductive isolation
12) Describe the taxonomic system for classifying organisms and be able recognize how closely
related two organisms are based on their taxonomic similarities.
13) Look over the worksheet from class entitled “Chapter 20 Organizing Life.” Make sure you
understand the information there.
14) Look over the first two video questions on the “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea” question sheet. The
two questions are listed below in case you lost them:
o What property of the HIV virus makes it impossible to treat with only one drug?
o Use the idea of natural selection to explain how the HIV virus can survive HIV drug
treatments.