L3: Evolution

• What is the title of Lecture 3, 2024?

  How we do Science and its application to evolution
• Who are the authors associated with the 3 major divisions or domains of life?

  Carl Woese and George Fox
• What is the basis for the classification of the 3 major domains of life?

  It is based on the comparison of ribosomal RNA.
• What does LUCA stand for in the context of evolutionary biology?

  Last Universal Common Ancestor
• What similarities were suggested between eukaryotes and the TACK archaea?

  Similarities in proteins involved in cytokinesis, cell shape determination, protein recycling, and membrane remodeling.
• What are the four archaeal phyla mentioned in relation to eukaryotes?

  • Thaumarchaeota
  • Aigarchaeota
  • Crenarchaeota
  • Korarchaeota
• What was the focus of the comparison in Hug et al., 2016 regarding the tree of life?

  A comparison of 92 bacterial phyla, 26 archaeal phyla, and all five Eukaryotic supergroups based on ribosomal protein sequences.
• What does it mean that the scientific story is provisional?

  It means that scientific knowledge can change with new discoveries.
• What did Robert Hooke claim regarding Isaac Newton?

  He claimed that he thought of the ideas first and accused Newton of plagiarism.
• What major concept did Einstein introduce in his Theory of General Relativity?

  Gravity is a warp in the four-dimensional fabric of spacetime.
• What are some effects of gravity predicted by Einstein?

  Time dilation, gravitational lensing, redshift of light, and black holes.
• What significant discovery was made by LIGO in 2020?

  LIGO detected echoes of gravitational waves when black holes fuse.
• What is the key conclusion about scientific knowledge?

  Everything learned in science is provisional and can be overturned by new observations.
• What are the six steps of the scientific method as outlined in the lecture?

  1. Perform science in a rational naturalistic framework.
  2. Require experimental/observational support.
  3. Proceed with the simplest explanation consistent with all data (Occam's Razor).
  4. Use inductive reasoning to draw conclusions.
  5. Compile and disseminate knowledge.
  6. Accept uncertainty.
• Who is considered the first good scientist according to the lecture?

  Alhazan
• What did Alhazan state about vision?

  He stated that vision occurs in the brain, rather than in the eyes.
• What is Occam's Razor?

  It is the principle that suggests choosing the simplest explanation consistent with all data.
• What does wielding Occam's Razor not guarantee?

  It does not guarantee the correct answer; it is only a guide on how to proceed.
• What is the role of inductive reasoning in science?

  Inductive reasoning allows scientists to draw conclusions based on repeated observations and data compilation.
• What is the process of publishing scientific work?

  Scientists describe their approaches and conclusions, which are then peer-reviewed by experts.
• Why is all science considered provisional?

  Because scientific ideas can change with new observational and experimental data.
• What is the definition of evolution provided in the lecture?

  The genetic content of a population changes over time.
• What are the three main mechanisms of microevolution?

  Natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
• Why did Darwin travel on the HMS Beagle?

  The captain wanted a traveling companion to help with his depressive thoughts.
• How long did Darwin spend making observations during the second voyage of HMS Beagle?

  Over 3 years.
• What was Darwin's model of evolution as described in "On The Origin of Species"?

  Descent with modification.
• What observation did Darwin make regarding mockingbirds?

  He noted variation among different specimens of mockingbirds.
• How can variation in species be amplified according to Darwin?

  By selective breeding.
• What are the key postulates of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection?

  Individuals within a species are variable, some variation is heritable, and reproduction is not random but selected by nature.
• What question is posed for the next lecture regarding Darwin's theory?

  Is there any experimental and/or observational evidence to support the Theory of Evolution?