Evolution topics to work on and know
7.1 Adaptation (define it)àmimicry, camouflage, variations,
àExamples: Peppered moth and pollution, antibiotic resistant bacteria
àMutations, selective advantage do page 304 Ques. 1,2,3,4,7,9,11,13
7.2 Natural Selection (define it): define: selective pressures with examples.
->why is natural selection situational?, What is fitness?
àmake notes on Artificial selection, food crops, monocultures
à pg 311#3,4,5,6,7,8,11,13
8.1 History of Theory of Evolution (make notes on the following contributors)
àGeorges Cuvier - > palaeontology, catastrophism
àCharles Lyell -> uniformitarianism
àJean-Baptiste Lamarck -> inheritance of acquired characteristics, use and disuse,
àCharles Darwin (1809-1882) HMS Beagle, On the Origins of Species,
Survival of Fittest, Theory of evolution by Natural Selection,
Know all the facts and inferences of his theory (See Handout)
à page 331 Ques. 4, 5, 6, 7,
8.2 Evidence for evolutionà Fossils, types of fossils, radioisotopes, transitional fossils
à Biogeography, distribution of fossils and living organisms, islands
àAnatomy, Homologous structures, analogous structures, vestigial organs
àEmbryology à DNA and molecular genetics, biological clocks, mutation rates
à page 340 ques. 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 Page 343 # 1-8, 12, 13, 20
9.1 Mechanisms of Evolution à mutation, Gene Flow, Non-random mating (sexual selection), Genetic drift (bottle neck effect, founders effect), natural selection (stabilizing, directional, disruptive selections graph) page 359 # 1, 2, 6, 10
9.2 Speciation (define)à Pre-zygotic Isolating Mechanisms (Behavioural, Habitat, Temporal, Mechanical, Gametic) àPost-zygotic Isolating Mechanisms (Hybrid inviability, Hybrid sterility, Hybrid Breakdown) page 363 # 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
àTypes of Speciation -> Sympatric Speciation, Allopatric speciation
àAdaptive Radiation, Divergent and Convergent Evolution,
àGradualism and Punctuated Equilibrium page 370 # 25, 28, 30
àBackground extinction, Mass Extinction (human activities)
UNIT REVIEW QUESTIONS page 387–391:1-15,17-23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 41, 45, 46
Typical evolution test questions
Multiple choice questions (with and without answers)
____ / 1. The age of the earth is estimated to be approximately:____ / 2. The most impressive direct evidence of evolution comes from the study of:
a) the fossil record
____ / 3. Which of the following scientists was associated with forming the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
____ / 4. The term genetic drift is defined as:
____ / 5. One type of raspberry flowers in May and has fruit in June. Another type of raspberry flowers in July and has fruit in September. Greenhouse owners have been able to crossbreed these two types to produce a hybrid that has fruit in June and again in September. This hybrid does not occur in natural settings because of which of the following?
a) Prezygotic mechanisms such as temporal isolation separate the populations
b) Postzygotic mechanisms such as temporal isolation separate the populations
c) Their DNA is too different to combine
d) Prezygotic mechanisms such as geographic isolation separate the populations
e) Postzygotic mechanisms such as geographic isolation separate the populations.
____ / 6. A species of flying squirrel inhabited an island. Ashes from a nearby volcano killed much of the vegetation, including all the trees. A few squirrels survived. Recently the squirrels were reported to be abundant, living among the rocks and shrubs now covering the island. In the present population, the ‘flight membranes’ are mostly too small to be functional. The most probable explanation for this change is which of the following?
a) A new type of squirrel was introduced to the island.
b) Natural Selection no longer favoured those who could fly.
c) The squirrels had no chance to fly so the membranes shriveled.
d) Young squirrels were not taught to fly by their parents, so the membranes did not develop.
e) All the squirrels that could fly left the island.
. ______was the name of the naturalist who co-presented the theory of how Evolution occurred
with Darwin in 1858. ______is the scientific study of fossils.
7.List and give a one sentence explanation for each of the facts and the inferences that
Darwin’s THEORY OF EVOLUTION is based upon. ( 1 mark each )
8. Mutations vary in their ability to affect evolution. Name the three types of mutations
( 3 marks )
9. List all the Prezygotic and postzygotic isolating mechanisms.(1 mark each)
10. Describe the difference between theory of gradualism and theory of punctuated equilibrium with regard to evolution. (2 marks)
11. Distinguish the founders effect from bottle-neck and give an example of each type.
12. There are three similar but distantly related large non-flying birds: the Ostrich in South Africa, the Emu Australia, and the Rhea in South America.
a) Suggest how Lamarck would have explained how these three birds evolved to be large fast-running birds. ( 2 marks)
b) How would Darwin or Wallace have explained the origin of these birds( 2 marks)
c) Suggest a hypothesis to explain why these species of birds are located where they are in the world (2 marks)
13. Toronto is planning to put the larvicide Methoprene in thousands of potential breeding sites for mosquitoes. If properly applied, it will kill most larva by interfering with metamorphasis. Discuss any evolutionary aspects of this practice. You can bring anything you have learned into this discussion. (6 marks Inquiry) (6 marks Communication)
14. a. Describe some of the ways that bacteria can acquire resistance to antibiotics using natural and artificial selection. ( 3 marks)
b. What are some of the things we can all do to lessen this problem? (3 marks)
15. A farmer sprays an insecticide on a field to combat a beetle that is destroying his crops. The first year he uses the spray it works quite well. However, after five years of spraying on an annual basis, the insecticide does not seem to be effective any longer and the beetles are still present. Explain how this illustrates natural selection. (3 marks T)
16. At the site of a fossil bed, you come across fossils in a number of layers in the sediment. Which layers would have the oldest fossils and which would have the youngest fossils? Explain. (2 marks A)
17. An examination of the fossil evidence indicates that, over time, horses have become taller, with longer legs and necks.a) Explain this evidence using the Theory of Evolution by Acquired Characteristics. (3 marks) b) Explain this evidence using the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. (3 marks A)
18. “38 species of birds of paradise live in the forests of New Guinea. The males are richly coloured with flamboyant feathers while the females are generally dull so they are inconspicuous when sitting on their nests. These birds also perform the most amazing courtship displays, none more spectacular than the Raggiana bird of paradise. To attract a female, males throw out their golden-red feathers, shake them, clap their wings over their backs and call vigorously.” What is this an example of? Explain. (3 marks A)
1. Define the following terms. Be sure to give a good example of each. (2 m each)
a. bottle-neck effect b. analogous structure c. mimicry
d. behavioural adaptation e. sexual dimorphism
f. vestigial structure g. punctuated equilibrium
2. Examine the following diagram. Label the type of speciation trend occurring for each section of the graph. (3 marks)