M2 Evidence for Evolution

Question 1

What was Darwin’s association with barnacles?

Answer 1

He spent 8 years completing a review of barnacle systematics to establish his credibility in order to get his more radical ideas accepted

Question 2

What were the four experiments Darwin conducted upon is return to England?

Answer 2

1. how long can a cabbage seed soak in salt water and still germinate?
2. Do seeds in the crop of a dead pigeon soaked in salt water still germinate?
3. Do lizard eggs float on salt water long enough to travel across the ocean?
4. Can snail eggs attach to and be transported by ducks by their feet?

Question 3

What did Darwin do with pigeons?

Answer 3

Raised and competed them (several varieties) and tracked the number of traits within each variety - variation within a population

Question 4

Why did Darwin conduct these experiments?

Answer 4

Either demonstrated natural selection or evolution

Question 5

What was Darwin’s definition of evolution

Answer 5

descent with modification

Question 6

What is our definition of evolution?

Answer 6

Changes in allele frequencies in a population over generations

Question 7

What were Darwin’s observations and inferences?

Answer 7

1. most organisms produce many offspring and are capable of exponential growth in certain conditions
2. Populations do not increase indefinitely
3. Food and resources are limited
   –> Individuals within a population competing for same resources regulates the population size
4. Individuals within populations demonstrate a lot of variance
5. Many variations appear to be inherited across generations
   –> Hereditary characteristics may allow certain individuals to live longer and reproduce more

Question 8

What is the first pillar of evidence (supporting Darwin)?

Answer 8

Fossil record - simple to complex, speciation, and transitional fossils

Question 9

What is the 2nd pillar of evidence?

Answer 9

Biogeography - plate tectonic, convergent evolution, vicariance vs dispersal

Question 10

What is the 3rd pillar of evidence?

Answer 10

Homology and morphology of anatomical structures - vestigial and imperfect design

Question 11

What is the 4th pillar of evidence?

Answer 11

Biodiversity - adaptive radiation and extinction

Question 12

What was the 6th pillar of evidence?

Answer 12

Molecular relationships - the more similar the amino acid/nucleotide, the more closely related

Question 13

What is the 5th pillar of evidence?

Answer 13

Embryology - mammalian embryological stages are based on others hence evolution (STRONG)

Question 14

What is the 7th pillar of evidence?

Answer 14

Direct observations

Question 15

What are some common misconceptions about natural selection?

Answer 15

1. Organisms will themselves to develop adaptations
2. Structures that are not used will eventually be lost
3. Natural selection acts on populations and species directly

Question 16

What is the difference between theory, fact, law, and hypothesis?

Answer 16

Theory - well supported and comprehensive explanation (why)
Fact - observation confirmed through testing and accepted as true
Law - statement of function that describes a pattern on nature (what happens)
Hypothesis - a testable statement