Transcript Introductory Questions

Introductory Questions
Unit 4: Evolution
(Ch. 22-26)
Introductory Questions #1
1) Why is evolution such a controversial subject?
2) Name the key founders (original people) for the
idea evolution.
3) Name four major pieces of evidence that Darwin
considered in formulating his theory of natural
selection.
4) Name three people that influenced Darwin’s
thinking as he developed his theory.
5) Name the four key observations Darwin made.
6) Why is fossil evidence considered the “most direct”
evidence for evolution? Approximately, how many
fossil species have been discovered?
7) What are the three methods for generating a date of
a fossil?
Introductory Questions #2
1) What is meant by homoplastic features?
2) Organisms that are from separate ancestries adapt
to their environments similarly from similar
structures. This is an example of
.
3) How many vestigial structures have been observed
in humans. Name three of them.
4) Why is biogeography (distribution of species)
important evidence for evolution?
5) Why is the chimpanzee considered to be the
closest living relative of humans?
6) How is a phylogenetic tree generated and what sort
of information does it provide?
Introductory Questions #3
1) Define what a gene pool is.
2) What are the three aspects in a population we
examine in order to understand how evolution is
occurring in a population.
3) If a population had 2500 individuals that are
diploid, how many total alleles would be present?
4) In a population of 1000 humans, 840 possess the
ability to roll their tongues (dominant trait) and
160 cannot. Determine the frequency of the
dominant and recessive alleles in the population.
5) What is happening if the population is in “genetic
equilibrium”
6) What is the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg
principle?
Introductory Questions #4
1) How can allele frequencies change in a population
and increase variation? Give three examples. What
do we call this when this is happening?
2) Does natural selection operate directly on the
phenotype or genotype of organisms? Briefly
explain your choice.
3) Name the three modes of selection. Explain how
each mode is different and draw a graph
representing each mode.
4) Define what genetic polymorphism is and why
balanced polymorphism is unique. Give the two
mechanisms observed for balanced polymorphism.
5) What is a neutral variation? Give an example.
6) Which species do we see sexual dimorphism as
means of mate selection
Introductory Questions #5
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Why is biogeography (distribution of species) important
evidence for evolution? (pg. 450) What is meant by a
species that is “endemic”?
What was Darwin’s most significant piece of evidence to
argue that all organisms come from a common ancestor?
Why is the chimpanzee considered to be the closest living
relative of humans?
How is a phylogenetic tree generated and what sort of
information does it provide?
Name two ways you can distinguish one species from
another. (Ch. 24)
How is a prezygotic barrier different from a postzygotic
barrier? Give two examples for each type of barrier.
(pg.474-475)
How is it possible for new species to emerge if the
population are overlapping and remain in contact with each
other?
Introductory Questions #6
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When many diversely adapted species come from a
common ancestor after being introduced to a new
environment as we see with Darwin’s finches on the
Galapagos Islands, this is called_________ ___________
Name the two models that have been proposed to explain
evolution observed in the fossil record. Which model
(gradualism or punctuated equilibrium) is more reflective of
the fossil record? Briefly explain why?
How do new body designs and evolutionary novelties form?
What is allometric growth and paedomorphosis?
When was the last mass extinction event? How many have
occurred in the last 600 million years? What typically occurs
following a mass extinction event?
Using the Geologic record on pg. 519 which era are we
currently living in? Which period involved the emergence of
flowering plants (angiosperms) and the extinction of
dinosaurs?
Introductory Questions #7
1. What were the molecules thought to exist in the
early atmosphere?
2. What does it mean when we say that this early
atmosphere was a “reducing” atmosphere?
3. What is the significance of Miller’s experiment in
the 1950’s?
4. What are protobionts and microspheres?
5. Where can Stomatolites be found? What are they
composed of?
6. What is the predominant thought of how
Polymerization might of occurred?
7. Was the first organisms thought to be heterotrophs
or Autotrophs? Explain.