Biology quarterly 3 Study guide
Topics - Evolution:
Evidences for Evolution, Natural Selection, Evolution of Populations, Cladistics
Review Topics/skills:
● Interpreting data
● Creating graphs
● Interpreting distribution graphs and scenarios (stabilizing selection, disruptive selection,
directional selection)
● Reading cladograms
History Of Evolution And Natural Selection
1- Darwin’s Survival of the fittest vs Lamarck’s acquired characteristics / use and disuse
Darwin believed that the specific characteristics that an organism has would lead them to survive
better, and reproduce. Lamarck believed that if an animal/ species worked towards what they wanted,
they would get it sort of way. For example, if a Giraffe spent all of its stretching its neck, then its
offsprings will have long necks.
2- What evidence did Darwin find on his voyage? What conclusions did he draw?
He found that on the Galapagos islands, different islands had differents types of birds and beaks . He
believed that the beaks match the types of food that the birds eat.
3- What is fitness in terms of evolution?
Fitness is the ability to reproduce. How attractive an animal is seen based on physical features that
allows them to reproduce.
4- Define gene pool and explain shifts in the gene pool.
Combined genetic information of all the members of a particular population. Based on fitness or the
selective pressure.
5- Factors that contribute to genetic variation.
Selective pressures, predators, hurricanes, wildfires, random selection, etc.
6- Define, identify, and explain selective pressure.
Selective pressure is environmental factors which may reduce reproductive success in a population.
Ex: Competition, luck, predation.
7- Make predictions about how environmental changes will impact populations.
By: Jessica Makar
Environmental changes, for example a hurricane, can whip out millions in a population, thus leading
those who weren’t affected to reproduce more and repopulate with their characteristics.
8- Can adaptations occur because the organism “wants” and “needs” to survive? Why or why not?
No, an organism can not change its own genes. The adaptation results because the trait is
advantageous in the environment.
9- Identify the steps needed for evolution to occur.
1. Natural Selection
2. Mutation
3. Immigration/Emigration
4. Sexual Selection
5. Genetic fit in small population
Evidence For Evolution (Common Ancestry)
*What is evolution.
Change in a kind of organism over time, process by which modern organisms have descendents from
ancient organisms.
1- What can we learn from fossil evidence? What can’t we learn?
We can learn the climate that the organism was in, and the food that the organism ate. We can’t learn
what the organism exactly looks like, and how many organisms they were.
2- Differentiate between analogous and homologous structures. What are the significance of each?
Analogous structures: similar function but different structure. (Convergent)
Homologous structures: Similar structure but different function. (Divergent)
3-What is a vestigial organ? Why do they exist?
A vestigial organ is a structure that is present in an organism but no longer serves its original purpose.
Ex: all whales have hind legs but they don’t need it because they swim but it was inherited from their
ancestors.
4- What can we learn from comparing amino acid sequences?
Basically which animal evolved from which. Also similar structures can be seen through amino acids.
(behaviors could work too but isn’t reliable).
5- What can we learn from embryology?
Shape of the embryos/when the animals were embryos. This can also show the process of the growing
animals, like similar structures could be shown as they’re being made. Through embryology, the
structures of many animals look similar and could be connected.
6-Define allele frequency.
Allele frequency is how common an allele is in a population. Determined by counting the number of
alleles in a population then dividing by the total number of the of copies of the gene.
Evolution of populations
1- What is coevolution and why does it occur?
When two species evolve in response to each other. It can evolve through predator/prey relationships,
mutations, etc.
2- Differentiate between convergent and divergent evolution.
Convergent evolution is the process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities
when adapting to similar environments. Divergent is the process by which species share a common
ancestor but end up in different environments.
3- What is adaptive radiation? Give an example.
When organisms change rapidly into different forms, just because of safer environment, more
resources, etc. Ex: The various types of birds that exist, similar features but different sizes of physical
structure. *The diversification of species from one founder species.
4- Differentiate and identify examples of microevolution vs macroevolution
Microevolution- the changes in the gene pool and allele frequencies over time.
Macroevolution- Major changes over a larger period of time. Ex: Wolves to whales
5- How does speciation occur?
Speciation occurs when a population can no longer interbreed with other population.
- Barriers - Gene flow interrupted - Difference accumulate
6- Rates of evolution - Punctuated equilibrium vs. Gradualism
Gradualism: Organisms evolve through a process of slow and constant change.
Punctuated equilibrium: Species evolve very rapidly and then stay the same for a large period of time.
7- State the difference between artificial selection, natural selection, and sexual selection.
Artificial selection: selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among
different organisms.
Natural selection: process by which individuals that are better suited with the environment around
them survive and reproduce most successfully.
Sexual selection: individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely that others to
obtain mates.
8- Identify the advantageous traits vs. those who are selected against.
Review questions
1- Define all kinds of Speciation.
Allopatric: occurs when two species develop from one species due to a geographical barrier like rivers.
Sympatric: occurs in the same area, without physical barriers, just differences in preferences.
Parapatric: when a false barriers occur in a population.
2- Define all kinds of isolation.
Temporal: when species breed at different times
Habitat: when two population cannot breed at the same area because of different habitats
Geographic: two populations are separated physically by a geographic barrier
Behavioral: differences in courtship behaviors, signals, and colors
Mechanical: when reproductive parts do not fit/match each other.
Gametic:when the surface proteins of the egg and sperm do no match
Reproductive: separation of species so they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
3- What is the difference between male competition and mate attraction?
Male competition: males compete with each other to gain the access to females.
Mate attraction: usually males convince females to mate, then females choose the best mate.
4- Define antibiotic resistance.
The ability of bacteria to fight the effects of an antibiotic.
5- what is the biological species concept?
Defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and create fertile offspring.
6-what is genetic drift?
Change in an allele frequency in a population from generations due to chance events.
7- What is comparative anatomy? Anatomical evidence?
The comparison of body structures and how they vary among species. Anatomical evidences are
homologous structures help scientists find relatedness among species
8- What is the difference between immigration and emigration?
Emigration: the movement of individuals out of an area.
Immigration: movement of individuals into an area.
9- Define extinction.
A term that describes a species that no longer has any known living individuals.
10- Define gene flow.
Movement of alleles into or out of a population due to the migration of individuals to or from the
population
11- What is the morphological species concept?
Evidence that is based only on the physical appearance and ignores DNA evidence.
12- What is the correct definition of a species?
A population whose members can interbreed and produce fertile offsprings.
13- What do we learn from embryology and amino acid sequences?
Amino acids implies similar DNA and that results in a closer relationship. Embryology implies similar
embryos development and that results in similar DNA and close evolutionary relationships.
14- What is the difference between relative and radioactive dating?
Relative dating is the science of determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily
determining their absolute age. Radioactive dating is a decay rate of radioactive isotope, c-14.
8- Given a scenario, identify the type of selection as: directional, disruptive, or stabilizing.
*The average from of a trait are most fit and extremes are eliminated
*Both extremes are the most fit (favored) and there is selection against the
middle variation
*Only individuals with one extreme are favored
The history of Hominids
Milestone Milestone Name Year it Why is it significant?
Number occurred
1 Becoming 6 million It was the start of homo sapiens coming to be
Bipeds years ago First evidence of becoming bipedal
Ancestor: sahelanthropus
2 Mostly bipeds 4 million It was when walking on two legs became a dominant
years ago trait
Those species were able to stand upright for a long
period of time
Can stand upright and swing from trees
Take advantage of ground and tree environment
Ancestors: Ardipithecus ramidus (Ardi),
Australopicus ararensis (Lucy)
3 Dawn of 2.6 million We started to make tools that would help with
Technology years ago everyday life activities
When tools start getting made
Homo Habilis
4 Control of Fire 800,000 FIre was a new tool that was used at the convenience
years ago of early homo sapiens
Change in diet
Socialization
Gives you safety from predators
Homo erectus
5 Rapid Increase 800,000 to Larger and more complex brains were developed that
in Brain Size 200,000 allowed us to react with the environment
years ago Brain size developed the most during a rapid and
dramatic climate change
Because natural selection is favoring those who can
problem solve their way through climate change
Homo erectus
6 The Turning 12,000 years Control their food supply so hunting wasn’t
Point ago necessary
Farming and domestication of animals comes around
and allows humans to control the landscape around
them
Homo. neanderthalensis
Homo sapiens
Ardi: creature of transition → Lucy: first fully bipedal → H. Habilis: tools → H. Erectus: Created fire,
and was first to leave Africa → H. Neanderthalensis/Sapiens: big brains, and complex language
Cladograms
1. Based on the cladogram, which organism has a vertebral column, but not 4
limbs?
Fishes (between vertebral column and 4 limbs)
2. What trait separates the snakes from the lizards?
Lost limbs
3. What trait separates the crocodiles from the dinosauria?
Semi-erect posture
4. What trait did the common ancestor of all organisms on the tree have?
Vertebral column
Divergent evolution → Homologous structures
Convergent Evolution → Analogous structure
