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Evolution
The scientific theory according to which populations change gradually through a process of natural selection.
5,264 Questions
Which statements about microevolution and macroevolution is true?
microevolution can lead to macroevolution
Snow Leopards are an example of changes in coat thickness, coat color, tail length and fat storage which are adaptations to an alpine environment. Whether the progenitors of the Snow Leopard were isolated from the main population during glaciation, marginalized individuals that migrated where they could fill an unoccupied niche, out competed the previous niche holder or some combination
of these possibilities the result is the Snow Leopard.
What is the age of fossils that can be measured by what dating?
Fossils themselves can very rarely be dated by any means...their age is usually judged by the geological assessment of the area and layer in which they are found
the sharing of common ancestors within the species' evolutionary history.
What must true for two organisms to be considered the same species?
they can produce fertile offspring
What kind of Americans opposed Darwins theory of evolution and why did they do so?
We often debate the way a baseball should be thrown or that someone wrote in an article that the way to hold a gun when shooting is THIS way not THAT way.
The people who oppose the idea of evolution are those who take the Christian bible literally.
Creationism is a religious belief. It says that all life began all at once just a few thousand years ago and has not changed.
Evolution says no to that view point. The universe is billions of years old and that things changed slowly over time and organisms adapt to survive in those changing environments.
These two will never agree and creationism should be seen in a religious light.
Does an animal's environment affect or does it not affect its adaptation?
This is the fundamental premise of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection; the environment has a fundamental impact on the adaptations and evolution of organisms. The environment "selects" for those specimens that survive to have more offspring. Those animals that cannot survive are selected against.
What is Kimuras Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution?
Kimura (1968) • The vast majority of evolutionary changes at the molecular level are caused by random drift of selectively neutral mutants (not affecting fitness) ! The Molecular Clock.
Why do you now know that inheritance of acquired characteristics is not valid?
Experiments have been done to verify inheritance of acquired characteristics, and results unanimously show that it is false.
Possible nothing. Natural selection produces combinatorial genes that work in amazing ways incrementally. The vertebrate eye, for instance. Naturally, those organisms that do not reproduce successfully are ' edited ', but selection works on the molecular level to make organisms not only fit, but fit enough.
The belief that life is a competitive struggle in which only the fittest survive?
To pit it in a more accurate form; the theory of evolution by natural selection. Not a belief, a theory in the scientific sense.
Good ol' punctuated equilibrium.
Why natural selection acts on the phenotype rather than genotype?
natural selection is a passive prosess . the mechanism of some individuals to be selected more than others is because they fit their environment more. and phenotype shows the fitness .
Survival of the fittest.
The population is evolving.
How does the process of fertilization act to increase genetic diversity within a population?
Random fertilization. All the eggs and sperm produced are variations due to crossing over alone, not even considering other processes. The meet and fertilization occurs randomly insuring a good mix of genetic variation. Thus, genetic diversity.
False
Compare morphological and biochemical evidence supporting evolution?
The morphological evidence which is shown in fossils to modern animals supports evolution because some dinosaurs, for instance, had feathers and we can obviously see that trait today in birds. The biochemical evidence, which comes in the form of DNA comparison and amino acid similarities, shows that we related closely to monkeys and pigs, which suggests that we have close ancestors to these animals.
What caused a change in color of the majority of London gypsy moths?
They evolved in response to changing selection pressures (specifically predation by birds) as levels of pollution changed. The pollution reduced the effectiveness of the moths natural camouflage, resulting in the more visible moths being eaten by birds in large quantities, the less visible moths then were the only ones reproducing and their color became dominate in the population.
What do biologists base their in belief in evolutionary theory?
It is the only theory presented that explains the existence of different species and the different versions/implementations within a species. It is based on various scientific based studies made over time by accepted scientists. All other beliefs are based on religious beliefs, mythology, superstition or suggestions of alien intervention.
Although the evolutionary theories have flaws (many flaws) and contradictory evidence, no other scientific based alternatives have been presented with enough evidence to warrant being accepted and until that occurs, the currently accepted beliefs will prevail, as will the religious beliefs, mythology, superstition and suggestions of alien intervention.
