Natural selection
A process in which organisms with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than are individuals with other traits
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time that can change over generations
Evolution
Descent with modification; genetic change in a population or species over generations; the heritable changes that have produced Earth's diversity of organisms
Fossil record
Ordered sequence of fossils as they appear in the rock layers, marking the passage of geological time
Biogeography
The geographic distribution of species, that first suggested to Darwin that todays organisms evolved from ancestral forms
Comparative anatomy
The comparison of body structures in different species
Homology
Anatomical similarity due to common ancestry
Vestigial structures
A structure of marginal, if any, importance to an organism; are historical remnants of structures that had important functions in ancestors
Gene pool
All the genes in a population at any one time
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
The condition describing a non-evolving population (one that is in genetic equilibrium)
Microevolution
A change in a population's gene pool over a succession of generations; evolutionary changes in species over relatively brief periods of geologic time
Genetic drift
A change in the gene pool of a population die to chance
Bottleneck effect
Genetic drift resulting from a drastic reduction in population size
Founder effect
The genetic drift resulting from the establishment of a small, new population whose gene pool differs from that of the parent population
Gene flow
The gain or loss of alleles from a population by the movement of individuals or gametes into or out of the population
Directional selection
Natural selection that acts in favor of the individuals at one end of a phenotypic range
Disruptive selection
Natural selection that favors extreme over intermediate phenotypes
Stabilizing selection
Natural selection that favors intermediate variants by acting against extreme phenotypes
Sexual selection
A form of natural selection in which individuals with certain characteristics are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates
Macroevolution
Evolutionary change above the species level, including the origin of evolutionary novelty and new taxonomic groups and the impact of mass extinctions on the diversity of life and its subsequent recovery
Speciation
An evolutionary process in which one species splits into two or more species
Biological species concept
The definition of a species as a population or group whose members have the potential in nature to interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Reproductive barrier
Anything that prevents individuals of closely related species from interbreeding, even when populations of the two species live together
Prezygotic barriers:
A reproductive barrier that impedes mating between species or hinders fertilization of eggs if members of different species attempt to mate
Postzygotic barriers
A reproductive barrier that operates if interspecies mating occurs and forms hybrid zygotes
Allopatic speciation
The formation of a new species in populations that are geographically isolated from one another
Sympatric speciation
The formation of a new species in populations that live in the same geographic area
Punctuated equilibria
In the fossil record, long periods of little apparent change interrupted by relatively brief periods of sudden change
Geologic time scale
A time scale established by geologists that reflects a consistent sequence of geologic periods, grouped into four divisions: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic
Radiometric dating
A method for determining the age of fossils and rocks from the ratio of a radioactive isotope to the nonradioactive isotopes of the same element in the sample
Systematics
A discipline of biology that focuses on classifying organisms and determining their evolutionary relationships
Taxonomy
The branch of biology concerned with identifying, naming, and classifying species
Binomial
A two-part Latinized name of a species
Genus
In classification, the taxonomic category above species; the first part of a species' binomial (plural genera)
Phylogenetic trees:
A branching diagram that represents a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships between organisms
Convergent evolution
the evolution of similar features in different evolutionary lineages, which can result from living in very similar environments
Analogy
The similarity between two species that is due to convergent evolution rather than to descent from a common ancestor with the same trait
Cladistics
The study of evolutionary history; specifically, an approach to systematics in which organisms are grouped by common ancestry
Clade
An ancestral species and all its descendants-a distinctive branch in the tree of life
Decent with Modification
What was Darwin's phrase for evolution?
Origin of Species
Decent with Modification
Uniformitarianism
Punctuated Equilibrium
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time.
Population
Community
Family
Herd
False
Darwin's Book, The Origin of Species, was very similar to the current scientific views of development
True
False
True
Georges Buffon was the first scientist to suggest that the Earth may be older than 6,000 years.
True
False
Prokaryotes
What group of organisms makes up the oldest known fossils?
Protists
Prokaryotes
Plants
Fish
Biogeography
What line of study first suggested to Darwin that today's organisms evolved from ancestral ones
Ecology
Taxonomy
Systematics
Biogeography
Vestigial
The small leg bone found in the skeletons of whales and snakes are referred to as what type of structures?
Common
Derived
Vestigial
Ancestral
D) Both A and B
Which two key observations did Darwin base his theory of natural selection on?
A) All species produce an excess of offspring
B) Presence of variation among individuals within a population
C) All individuals in a population reproduce
D) Both A and B
They possess traits that are better suited to the environment
According to Darwin, why are some individuals more successful in survival and reproduction?
They didn't have many competitors present
They have more time to develop
They possess traits that are better suited to the environment
They are luckier than other
They are the only ones that can be passes to future generations
Why are heritable traits the only important ones for Natural Selection?
They are the easiest to see
They are the only ones that can be passes to future generations
These are the ones that aren't affected by mutations
These traits cannot be altered in futu
Gene pool
The total collection of alleles in a population
Gene pool
DNA
Synthesis
Mutations
False
All variation in a population is heritable
True
False
D) Both A and B
What is one source of genetic variation?
A) Mutations
B) Sexual reproduction
C) Environmental heterogeneity
D) Both A and B
49%
If a dominant allele is present in 70% of the population, what is the probability of an offspring having an all dominant genotype (i.e. RR)
25%
49%
67%
75%
Genetic drift
A change in the gene pool of a population due to chance alone
Ecology
Gene flow
Random mating
Genetic drift
Founder effect
The genetic changes of populations that colonize islands are mostly the result of what mechanism?
Gene flow
Random mating
Founder effect
Sexual selection
Gene flow
Which mechanism of microevolution has been most affected by increase ease of human travel throughout the world?
Gene flow
Random mating
Founder effect
Sexual selection
Disruptive selection
Which type of selection favors the extreme phenotypes of a population?
Directional selection
Disruptive selection
Stabilizing selection
Sexual selection
Sexual selection
The type of selection where a female will select which male she would like to mate with?
Directional selection
Disruptive selection
Stabilizing selection
Sexual selection
False
Evolution always results in a new species being formed
True
False
Biological
The species concept that defines a species as a group of populations that have the potential to produce fertile offspring
Biological
Morphological
Phylogenetic
Evolutionary
True
The biological species is not applicable to all living things
True
False
Hybrid breakdown
What is not a prezygotic barrier to reproduction
Temporal isolation
Habitat isolation
Hybrid breakdown
Mechanical breakdown
Temporal
A type of reproductive isolation where mating or fertilization occurs at different seasons or times of day
Mechanical
Temporal
Reduced hybrid viability
Gametic
Gametic
A type of reproductive isolation where female and male gametes fail to unite in fertilization
Mechanical
Temporal
Reduced hybrid viability
Gametic
Reduced hybrid fertility
A type of reproductive isolation where a hybrid fails to produce functional gametes
Reduced hybrid viability
Reduced hybrid fertility
Hybrid breakdown
Temporal isolation
Mountain formation
Which of the following events could cause allopatric speciation between two populations?
Sexual selection
Mutations
Mountain formation
Habitat selection
Polyploid
Many agricultural crops such as wheat, potatoes, bananas, etc. arose through speciation because they have what type of cells?
Heterozygous
Polyploid
Paedomorphic
Haploid
Speciation happens rapidly
What does punctuated equilibria tell us about how long it takes to form new species?
Happens at equal intervals through time
Each species evolves at the same rate
Speciation happens slowly
Speciation happens rapidly
True
Sedimentary rocks contains the riches source of fossils
True
False
Paleozoic
Which geologic time era do we see the first amphibians and insects appear?
Cenozoic
Mesozoic
Paleozoic
Precambrian
True
Oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere during the Precambrian era
True
False
Extinction event
The boundaries between different eras are marked by what events?
Climate change
Speciation event
Extinction event
Continental drift
Pangea
What was the name of the "supercontinent" that formed approximately 250 million years ago
Beringia
Pangea
Gondwana
Middle earth
Systematics
The study that focuses on classifying organisms and determining their evolutionary relationships
Biogeography
Ecology
Taxonomy
Systematics
Homo sapiens(italicized)
Which of the following is the correct way to write a scientific name?
Homo sapiens
Homo sapiens(italicized)
Homo Sapiens(italicized)
Homo sapiens
Domain
Which of the following is the highest level of classifications (includes the most groups)
Order
Phylum
Domain
Genus
Analogy
Similarity in structure of an organism due to convergence
Homology
Analogy
Cladistics
Phylogenetic tree
Clade
A group that includes the ancestor and all its evolutionary descendants
Coterie
Species
Order
Clade