Evolution Study Guide

Evolution Study Guide

1.  What were the 3 experiments performed to disprove spontaneous generation?

Francesco Redi (meat in a jar), Spallanzani (broth in a capped flask), Pasteur (broth in a curved neck flask)

2.  Since there was little oxygen in the early atmosphere, what was one of the gases used instead?

methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3) hydrogen (H2)

3.  Why did Miller and Urey not use oxygen gas in their apparatus?

There was very little oxygen in Earth’s early atmosphere

4.  What did Miller and Urey produce with their apparatus?

Liquid mixture of various organic compounds including amino acids (primordial soup)

5.  Where did Darwin conduct his research?

Galapagos Islands

6.  What are some things that Darwin concluded when studying the finches?

Descent with modification, modification by natural selection

7.  Define adaptation.

Occurs when organisms change to better fit their environment

8.  What did Darwin use to explain evolution.

Beaks of finches from the Galapagos

9.  Organisms that are well suited to their environment……….(finish the definition)

Reproduce more successfully than other organisms

10.  Define natural selection.

Occurs when organisms are able to adapt better to their environment and reproduce more successfully

11.  What are some examples that could cause competition among species?

Reduction in habitat, food source, mates, etc

12.  Define homologous structures.

Similar features that originated in a shared/common ancestor

13.  Define vestigial structure. Give 2 examples.

Structure that may have once served a purpose but is no longer used by an organism; humans – tailbone, appendix

14.  List some evidence for evolution.

Homologous and analogous structures, vestigial structures, similar DNA

15.  Define disruptive selection.

individuals with either extreme of a trait have a greater fitness than those with a average form; either extreme > average

16.  Define directional selection.

individuals that display a more extreme form of a trait have a greater fitness then those with an average form of trait; one extreme > average

17.  Define stabilizing selection.

individuals with the AVERAGE form of a trait have the highest fitness; most common

Evolution Study Guide

1.  What were the 3 experiments performed to disprove spontaneous generation?

2.  Since there was little oxygen in the early atmosphere, what was one of the gases used instead?

3.  Why did Miller and Urey not use oxygen gas in their apparatus?

4.  What did Miller and Urey produce with their apparatus?

5.  Where did Darwin conduct his research?

6.  What are some things that Darwin concluded when studying the finches?

7.  Define adaptation.

8.  What did Darwin use to explain evolution.

9.  Organisms that are well suited to their environment……….(finish the definition)

10.  Define natural selection.

11.  What are some examples that could cause competition among species?

12.  Define homologous structures.

13.  Define vestigial structure. Give 2 examples.

14.  List some evidence for evolution.

15.  Define disruptive selection.

16.  Define directional selection.

17.  Define stabilizing selection.