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Wake Acceleration Academy - Biology Note Guide Unit 6: Evolution & The Diversity of Life Extra Resources Website: http://waa-science.weebly.com

Module 1: Darwin and Natural Selection Vocabulary Term Definition

(You may use an Internet search to help define terms)

Charles Darwin

On the Origin of

Species

Naturalist

Speciation

survival of the fittest (as it pertains to Biology)

Key Questions:

1. On which islands did Charles Darwin make observations to create his theories?

2. Were the lifeforms on all of the islands the exact same to each other? Were they the exact same to animals on other parts of the world?

3. Natural selection is a specific mechanism of evolution in which the heritable traits (characteristics) help

an organism do what?

4. Name the five points that are basis of Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Review the kitten example to better understand the significance of the five points of natural selection.

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5. Darwin’s study of finches showed that the birds had variations in their beaks. Why are minor variations

within species important for survival?

6. How did Lyell’s work influence Darwin?

7. How did Malthus’ work influence Darwin?

8. How did Lamarck’s work influence Darwin?

9. What did Darwin and Lamarck disagree on?

10. Why does the world today believe Darwin’s theory and not Lamarck’s?

Darwin and Earlier Scientists (Slide 20) Complete the table below:

Year Scientist Contribution

1785

Theory of the Earth: Earth’s land and rock formations change

over time

1798

Essay on the Principle of Population: If plants & animals had unlimited offspring then a scarcity of resources (food, shelter etc.)

will result. Therefore, the competition for resources helps to

control population growth

1809

Philosophie zoologique: Theory of Acquired Inheritance; traits

are developed through the use and disuse of organs, and they are

passed on to future generations.

1833

Principles of Geology: The Earth has been experience change

since it was born. Mountains, oceans, lakes and rivers are a result

of this change. The Earth is still changing to this day.

1858

Studied plant and animal distribution/similarities

1859

Origin of Species: Species have evolved over the course of many

years from a common ancestor.

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Module 2: Adaptive Evolution Vocabulary Term Definition

(You may use an Internet search to help define terms)

Adaptive Evolution (include an example)

Gene Pool

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift:

Bottleneck Effect

Genetic Drift: Founder Effect

Key Questions: 1. Complete the statement (slide 9): It's important to remember that only a ____________________ change

in a trait results in adaptive evolution, not a ____________________ or accidental change.

2. Review Question: Are all mutations harmful? Are all mutations beneficial?

3. How do viruses act as a source of genetic variation and thus adaptive evolution?

4. How do alleles and genetic information change during gene flow?

5. How does genetic drift effect genetic variation?

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Sources of Genetic Variation (Slides 11) Complete the table

Source Definition/Description/Cause Example Consequences (slide 18)

Allele

Frequency

Mutations

Viruses

Sexual

Reproduction

Gene Flow

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Patterns of Natural Selection (Slides 21-22 of 25)

Pattern Description (Slide 21) Butterfly Example (Slide 22)

Directional Selection

Disruptive Selection

Stabilizing Selection

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Module 3: Speciation Vocabulary Term Definition

(You may use an Internet search to help define terms)

Species

(as described by Ernst Mayr 1942)

Review: Gene Pool

Reproductive

Isolation

Adaptive Radiation

Convergent Evolution

Key Questions:

1. When do prezygotic barriers occur?

2. What are some examples of prezygotic barriers?

3. When do postzygotic barriers occur?

4. Why is a mule (hybrid animal) considered to be an example of a postzygotic barrier?

5. Will geographic isolation always lead to the formation of a new species? Why or why not?

6. Why do eastern and western meadowlarks not mate even though they may live in the same area?

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Forms of Reproductive Isolation (Slides 9 through 11)

Form Description Example

Geographic Isolation

Behavioral Isolation

Temporal Isolation

Mechanical Isolation

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Mechanisms of Speciation (Slides 13 through 16)

Mechanism Translation Definition/Description Example

Allopatric

Speciation

“other country”

Sympatric

Speciation

“same country”

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Adaptive Radiation and Convergent Evolution (Slide 19)

Compare adaptive radiation and convergent evolution. Place similarities in the middle of the section.

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Module 4: Phylogeny Vocabulary Term Definition

(You may use an Internet search to help define terms)

Fossil

Paleontology

Phylogeny

Vestigial Structure (give an example)

Example: Tailbones in humans

Analogous Structures (give an example)

Homologous

Structures

(give an example)

Mass Extinction

Cladistics

Key Questions:

1. Can scientists determine/estimate the age of rocks?

2. Explain the morphological change in horses due to their change in eating habits (went from soft grass in forests to hard grasses in plains)

3. How do scientists use fossils to understand evolution of organisms?

4. What do analogous structures indicate about evolutionary relationships?

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5. What do homologous structures indicate about evolutionary relationships?

6. How does embryology help determine phylogeny?

7. How does molecular biology (studying genes) provide evidence for evolution?

8. Which technique is more reliable in phylogeny – molecular biology or fossil records?

9. What does differences in amino acid sequences tell us about two organisms?

10. What is one of the biggest problems with amino acid sequence method?

11. What is DNA hybridization? How is it used in phylogeny?

12. During which period was the mass extinction of the dinosaurs?

13. During which era was the mass extinction of the dinosaurs?

14. After a mass extinction, what happens to the species that survive?

15. What information is displayed on a cladogram?

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Example of a Phylogenic Tree or “Tree of Life”

Biologists use this evidence to

reconstruct evolutionary history

and create the tree of life.

The tree of life shows the

evolutionary interrelations of

different organisms that

originated from a common

ancestral form.

The ancestors lie in the tree

trunk, while organisms that have

arisen from them are placed at

the ends of tree branches.

Closely related groups are

located on branches close to one

another, indicating a closer

relationship.

Cladogram Example:

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Module 5: The Tree of Life Vocabulary Term Definition

(You may use an Internet search to help define terms)

Taxonomy

Nomenclature

Taxon

Review:

Phylogeny

Molecular Clock

Hypothesis

Key Questions: 1. What are the seven levels in order (most general to most specific) for Linnaeus’s hierarchical system of

classification?

2. What were the two kingdoms that Linnaeus identified?

3. Which two categories make up the scientific name of an organism?

4. The scientific name is always written in italics. Which part of the name is capitalized? Which part of the

name is in lowercase lettering?

5. How were scientists able to distinguish between bacteria and archaebacteria?

6. Linnaeus’s method of taxonomy only had two kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia. Whittaker’s method has

five kingdoms. Why did Whittaker add more kingdoms? What are the four kingdoms that replaced Plantae in Whittaker’s system?

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7. Woese developed the six kingdom system by dividing Monera in to two separate kingdoms. Why did

Woese see this as necessary? What are the two new kingdoms called?

8. What are names of the three domains?

Classification Comparison from Slide 18 Complete the table below.

Three

Domain

Classification

Bacteria Archaea Eukarya

Six Kingdom

Classification Eubacteria Archaebacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Cell Type

Organization

Cell Wall

Nutrition

Examples