Exam 7: Evolution the Theory and Its Supporting Evidence

What role does the process of mass extinction play in the evolution of life?

What is the development of similar characteristics in distantly related organisms called?

What is punctuated equilibrium?

Punctuated equilibrium is the gradual accumulation of minor changes eventually resulting in the origin of a new species.

Parallel evolution occurs when

____________________ illustrate the relationships among members in a group of organisms, including the group's most recent common ancestor.

The basic unit of heredity, ____, is found in segments of ____.

Cell division yielding sex cells, sperm and eggs in animals, and pollen and ovules in plants, in which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half is ____.

One important conclusion of Mendel's genetic studies with pea plants is ____.

Evolutionary change always occurs slowly, over long periods of time.

Using the Darwin-Wallace mechanism of natural selection, describe how the long necks of giraffes evolved.

Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species .

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck developed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics .

Whether a mutation is harmful or beneficial can only be judged in respect to the environment.

Compare and contrast the Darwin-Wallace mechanisms of natural selection and evolution with Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. Explain how both of these concepts might apply to the development of long necks in giraffes.

The concept of ____________________ proposes that species change little or gradually over long periods of time and then evolve quickly to give rise to new species.

Discuss how the concept of punctuated equilibrium is compatible with the fossil record. How does this concept adapt Darwin's original concepts of natural selection and evolution to agree more closely with what we see in nature?

The science of genetics was developed based on experimental studies using fruit flies.

____________________ allow genes to have multiple expressions.

Strong evidence for evolution comes from the field of ____________________, which studies the geographic distribution of ancient and present-day organisms.