UNIT 8 – EVOLUTION

Unit Objectives

At the conclusion of this unit, you should be able to:

Evolution & Population Genetics

1.  Explain how theories of gradualism and uniformitarianism influenced Darwin’s ideas about evolution.

2.  Describe Lamarck’s explanation of how adaptations evolve.

3.  Explain what Darwin meant by the principle of “descent with modification”. (also the name of the boat and book)

4.  Explain why variation was so important to Darwin’s theory.

5.  Describe the use of the following in the study of macroevolution; embryology, fossils, homology, vestigial organs and biochemistry.

6.  Using the peppered moth, explain how natural selection results in evolutionary change.

7.  Write the general Hardy-Weinberg theorem, use it to calculate allele and genotype frequencies, identify conditions of disequilibrium and describe the usefulness of the model.

8.  Explain how genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, nonrandom mating and natural selection can cause microevolution.

9.  Give the cause of genetic variation in a population.

10.  Explain the concept of fitness and its role in preserving variation.

11.  Describe what selection acts on and what factors contribute to the overall fitness of a genotype.

12.  Be able to define: adaptive radiation, isolation, natural selection, stable gene pool, convergent evolution, divergent evolution, allopatric speciation, sympatric speciation, gradualism, and punctuated equilibrium.

13.  Describe the use of the following in the study of population genetics: embryology, fossils, homology, vestigial organs, biochemistry.

14.  Distinguish between anagenesis and cladogenesis.

15.  Define biological species (Mayr) and describe limitations of the concept.

16.  Distinguish between prezygotic and postzygotic isolating mechanisms.

Early Earth/Taxonomy

1.  Define/describe geological time scale, pangea

2.  Describe Oparin’s hypothesis and the Miller-Urey experiments.

3.  Describe the proposed sequence of development of life on earth.

4.  List the attributes of each of the six kingdoms.

5.  Given an organism or its description, place it in the correct kingdom.

6.  Be able to create, interpret diagrams showing evolutionary relationships, including phylogenetic trees, cladograms

Revised and reprinted with permission from Debbie Richards

Bryan ISD