Any change in the heritable traits within populations through successive generations
Can an INDIVIDUAL evolve?
No!
Heritable traits can be structural, physiological, or behavioral
Characteristics/Mutations can be neutral, beneficial, or harmful
Evolution results in the diversity of genes which allows species to survive environmental changes
What does the theory of catastrophism suggest?
The Earth has gone through many globalcatastrophes which have wiped out entirespecies
What does the theory of uniformitarianism suggest?
Geological changes are slow and gradual. These processes occur today and have notchanged throughout Earth's history.
What are homologous structures?
They are similar in anatomy and development pattern, HOWEVER their functions are different
What are analogous structures?
Similar in functions HOWEVER are different in anatomy and development pattern
Are homologous or analogous structures passed down from ancestors?
Homologous structures.
Convergent evolution occurs when organism that are exposed to similar environmental pressures develop similarities in their appearance
Divergent evolution occurs when a common ancestor developed different adaptations due to different environmental pressures which caused their appearance to become distinct
Convergent evolution CAN'T be traced back to a common ancestor
What phrase is commonly used to describe Darwin's theory of evolution?
Survival of the fittest
What phrase is commonly used to describe Lamarck's theory of evolution?
Habitat modifies form
What is the "scientific" meaning of "Survival of the fittest"?
Organisms that are BEST suited for their environment are the fittest and survive long enough to reproduce
Main ideas of Natural selection:
1: There MUST be competition among organisms for survival
2: There is VARIATION within a population
3: Organisms adapt accordingly to their environment
4: Must be able to mate
What is speciation?
New species arise from existing ones through the accumulation of genetic changes over time.
What is a species?
Group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
What is artificial selection?
Selective breeding of plants and animals by humans to promote desirable traits. (Same as natural selection however instead of nature favoring traits it's humans)
What animals did Darwin's closely study on his travels to the Galapagos Islands?
Finches
Vestigial Structures are body parts with no apparent function but may have a function in the past
The 5 main key categories that support the theory of evolution by natural selection are:
1: Biogeography
2: Fossil records/paleontology
3: Comparative Biochemistry
4: Comparative Anatomy
5: Comparative embryology
What is microevolution?
A change in a populations gene pool over a SHORT period of time