What is Lamarck’s evolutionary theory based on?
Inheritanche of acquired characteristics : different characteristics appear or disappear based on use or disuse
Other words: a species gradually improved over generations because of an inherent drive toward perfection
Ex: giraffes, neck grew taller because less food at the floor level.
What is Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection?
Traits are selected for (or against) naturally and will continue or disappear based on how they are +/- for survival and for reproduction in a given environment
Ex: giraffes, all had diff. size necks, smaller on died -> x reproduce.
-> longer neck gene is being more and more passed on.
What are the 4 postulates of the theory of natural selection?
- In a pop. traits vary among individuals.
- These variations are passed from generation to generation.
- In a pop. some individuals are better at surviving and reproducing.
- These most successful are not random, but determined based on traits variation thay have in a given environment.
What is fitness? How is it measured?
How well adapted an organism is to its environment.
How many alleles the organism contributes to the next gen. vs. the other individuals of the same specie.
What is adaptation?
Changes in the traits of a pop. -> allows to survive and reproduce in their environment.
What is an adaptative trait?
Traits that have a hereditary component that increase the fitness of an organism.
