Download Evolution and Classification Study Guide KEY

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Study Guide – Evolution and Classification
1. What is Evolution?
Change in an organism over time.
2. What does the Fossil Record have to do with Evolution?
The fossil record gives us physical evidence that allows us to make comparisons
between previous and current versions of organisms.
3. List the 4 mechanisms that drive Evolution.
1. Natural Selection
2. Gene Flow
3. Genetic Drift
4. Mutations
4. A factor that determines how well an organism thrives in their environment is called a
Limiting factor.
5. What are the 3 types of Selection? Briefly describe each.
6. Describe the difference between Gene Flow and Genetic Drift.
Gene flow happens when organisms move into or out of a population. That process brings in new genes
to the gene pool or takes genes out of the gene pool. Genetic drift happens when a population gradually
accumulates changes, becoming more and more adapted to the environmental conditions. So the
population gradually becomes different than the way it used to be.
7. What is Reproductive Isolation?
the inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical,
behavioral, physiological, genetic barriers or temporal.
8. What are the types of Reproductive Isolation?
Geographic, Behavioral, Temporal, Physiological, Genetic
9. Distinguish between Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation.
Allopatric speciation is speciation that results when a population is separated by a physical barrier.
It is also referred to as geographic speciation.
Sympatric speciation is speciation that occurs without physical separation of members of the
population.
10. How are Artificial and Natural Selection similar? How are they different?
Natural Selection - Traits that increase the fitness in an organism’s environment is selected for BY
NATURE.
Artificial Selection - HUMANS select the desirable traits.
They are similar in that the traits that are most desirable, for whatever reason, are selected
for.
11. What are the 5 agents of Evolutionary Changes?
Mutation, Gene Flow, Genetic Drift, Nonrandom Mating, Natural Selection
12. Compare and contrast Darwin’s Theory of Evolution to Lamarck’s.
Darwin – those with traits that prove beneficial to the organism within their environment
will allow that organism to successfully survive and reproduce more.
Lamarck – those traits the organism DECIDES are beneficial are developed. Any traits not
used will eventually go away (Theory of Use and Disuse).
13. Compare and contrast Homologous and Analogous Structures.
Homo – similar structure, different function, demonstrates a common ancestor
Ana – similar function. Different structure, does NOT demonstrate a recent common
ancestor
14. What is a Vestigial Structure? Give an example.
An organ that is currently of no use within the most recent version of an organism.
Ex. appendix, wisdom teeth, pelvis in whales
15. What is the Hardy-Weinberg equation? What is it attempting to determine?
p2+2pq+q2=1
H-W attempts to predict allele frequency within a population.
16. What 5 conditions MUST be present for Hardy-Weinberg to be valid?
1. A large breeding population.
2. Random mating.
3. No change in allele frequency due to mutation.
4. No immigration or emigration.
5. No natural selection.
17. Define Taxonomy.
The science of naming and classifying organisms.
18. What is Classification?
The process of categorizing organisms based on shared traits. (Taxonomy)
19. What system of classifying organisms did Carolus Linnaeus devise?
Binomial nomenclature
20. What does Binomial Nomenclature mean?
Organisms’ scientific name has two names.
21. List the rules of scientific naming.
1. Must be in Latin (Greek in some texts)
2. Genus name is capitalized
3. species name is not
4. Must be italics or underlined
22. List the levels of Classification from broadest to most specific.
Domain – Kingdom – Phylum – Class – Order – Family – Genus - Species
23. How many Domains are there? What are their names?
3 – Archaea
Eukarya
Bacteria
24. How many Kingdoms are there? What are their names?
6 – Animalia
Plantae
Protista
Eubacteria
Archaebacteria
Fungi
25. Define Systematics.
• Systematics is a system that organizes the tremendous diversity of organisms into a
visual representation; such as, a phylogenetic tree or a cladogram.
26. What are Phylogenetic Trees or Cladograms illustrating?
Evolutionary history
27. What is the difference between Convergent and Divergent Evolution?
• Convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related evolve
similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments.
•
Divergent evolution is the accumulation of differences between organisms within a
group, which can lead to the formation of new species.
28. What factors are considered when creating a Cladogram/Phylogenetic tree?
Morphology, embryonic patterns of development and chromosomes/macromolecules.
29. What is an “outgroup”?
The least evolved organism on a cladogram.
30. When setting up a Cladogram, what determines an organism’s location?
The presence/absence of specified traits.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection states that more individuals are
produced each generation that can survive; phenotypic variation exists among
individuals and the variation is heritable; those individuals with heritable traits better
suited to the environment will survive and live long enough to reproduce.