BIO101
Unit 3 Objectives
Origin of Life, Evolution & Taxonomy
Terminal Objective:
The student will define concepts of the origin of life on earth and theories of evolution relating
evolution to taxonomy by using evolutionary relationships to classify living things in modern
taxonomic categories.
Intermediate Objectives:
The student will be able to:
1. Explain what is meant by “chemical evolution”, describe environmental conditions of the
primitive earth, show the relation of its components to that of organisms and outline the
proposed steps leading to protocells.
2. Describe the first forms of life according to the heterotroph hypothesis, cite experiments to
support this hypothesis and explain why the appearance of autotrophs was important.
3. Briefly explain the modern theory of biological evolution including the contributions of
Darwin and Wallace to this theory.
4. Explain what is meant by “natural selection” and give examples of physical and biological
selection factors.
5. State what is meant by the term “variation” and explain the mechanisms of variation.
6. Define species and tell how a new species evolves.
7. Tell what is meant be “survival of the fittest”
8. Tell how the theory of evolution provides a basis for classifying organisms and describe
some criteria used to determine the relationship between major groups of organisms.
9. Indicate how the “Tree of Life” can be used to indicate broad evolutionary relationships.
10. Describe the two theories that explain the pace of evolution.
11. Differentiate between convergent and divergent evolution.
12. Define the term taxonomy and to state the taxonomic categories in order from kingdom to
species.
13. List the five kingdoms with an example of each.
14. Explain what is meant by a scientific name (binomial) and state the scientific name for
human beings.
15. State the classification of human beings for each of the taxonomic ranks.
16. Explain the new concept of Domains and state the three categories with examples and
characteristics of each.
Study Guide Unit 3 – Origin of Life, Evolution & Taxonomy
I.
Origin of Life
A. When were the stars, planets, and moons of the universe first
formed?
B. When did the solar system first formed?
C. What gases formed the early earth atmosphere?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
D. What were the atmospheric conditions on Early Earth?
1.
2.
3.
E. Oparin & his theory:
1. early energy sources on earth:
F. Stanley Miller
G. Theory of the Origin of Life
1. When did the first protocell appear?
2. What was a protocell?
H. The Heterotroph Hypothesis
I. Autotrophs: why was this significant?
1. chemosynthesis
2. photosynthesis
3. When did the first eukaryotic organism appear?
4. When did the first multicellular organism appear?
J. Characteristics of Living things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
II.
The Tree of Life
A. Plants –
1. Characteristics
2. examples
B. Animals1. characteristics
2. examples
C. Fungi –
1. characteristics
2. examples
D. Protists –
1. characteristics
2. examples
E. Monera –
1. characteristics-
2. examples –
3. Early Protist
III. Evidences
of Evolution
A. Evolution (definition) –
B. fossils –
C. Geological Time Scale –(page 541)
1. relative dating methods
D. Mass extinctions
1. extinction (definition)
2. At least five mass extinctions occurred throughout history
3. Give an example (Dinosaurs)
E. Biogeography
F. Anatomical Evidence
1. homologous structures
2. analogous structures
G. vestigial structures
H. Biochemical Evidence
IV. Agents
of Evolutionary Change
A. mutation
B. Genetic Drift
C. Gene Flow
D. non random mating
V.
Lamarck’s Theory
VI. Origin
of Species based on Natural Selection
A. Natural Selection
B. Charles Darwin’s Theory (Origin of Species by means of
Natural Selection)
1. Variations
2. Struggle for existence
3. population size remains stable
4. Survival of the fittest
5. Natural Selection
6. adaptation
7. fitness
VII.
Modern Understanding of Natural Selection & Evolution
A. variation
B. inheritance
C. differential adaptation
D. differential reproduction
1. Stabilizing selection
2. Directional selection
3. Disruptive selection
E. speciation
1. species (definition)
2. geographic barrier
3. adaptive radiation
a. Finches
VIII.
Classification of Living Things
A.
A. B.. Taxonomy (definition)
B. List the taxonomic categories from Kingdom to species:
IX. Kingdoms
A. Kingdom Monera
B. Kingdom Protista
C. Kingdom Fungi
D. Kingdom Plantae
E. Kingdom Animalia
X.
Scientific Names
A. binomial
B. What is the scientific name for human beings?
XI. Classification
A. Kingdom
B. Phylum
C. Class
D. Order
E. Family
F. Genus
G. Species
XII.
Domains
A. Archaea
B. Bacteria
C. Eukarya
of Humans
Glossary Unit 3
acquired characteristics
Variations that occur in the body structure during the life of an individual caused by factors in
the environment.
analogous
body parts of two different organisms similar in function but dissimilar in structure, having
evolved from different ancestors.
anatomy
the study of the structure of organisms
Archaea
one of the three domains of life containing prokaryotic cells that often live in extreme habitats.
autotrophs
an organism that can capture energy and synthesize organic molecules from inorganic nutrients.
Organisms that can manufacture their own food.
biochemical analysis
study of the different types of chemical compounds in organisms
biogeography
the study of the distribution of plants and animals throughout the world.
binomial
a system for naming organisms using a two word name known as the scientific name. This name
is derived from the genus and species of that organism.
class
a taxonomic category that includes several orders.
domain
largest of the categories used by taxonomists to group species.
embryology
the study of the development of an organism from conception to birth.
eukaryotic cell
type of cell that has a membrane bound nucleus and membranous organelles.
extinction
the dying out of every member of a particular species.
family
a taxonomic group that includes several genera.
genus
a taxonomic category that includes several species.
heterotroph
organisms that can no manufacture their own food therefore must take in organic nutrients.
homologous
structures that are similar having evolved from a common ancestor which may differ in function.
kingdom
the most inclusive category used in biological classification of organisms.
mammalia
a class of vertebrates characterized by the presence of mammary glands and body hair.
mutation
an inherited alteration in chromosome structure or number.
natural selection
mechanism of evolution caused by factors in the environment that select organisms most fit to
reproduce.
order
the taxonomic category that includes several similar families.
phylum
a taxonomic group that includes several similar classes.
photosynthesis
Process by which plants algae make their own food using the energy of the sun.
prokaryotic cell
a cell lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles.
protista
a kingdom of organisms which may have plant and animals characteristics, but most are
unicellular and simple in structure.
protocell
in biological evolution, a possible cell forerunner that became a cell once it could reproduce.
species
group of similarly constructed organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
taxonomy
the science of classification of living things
variations
differences among members of the same species or differences between different kinds of
organisms
vestigial structure
underdeveloped structure that was functional in some ancestor but is no longer functional in a
particular organism