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Evolution

The scientific theory according to which populations change gradually through a process of natural selection.

5,264 Questions

What is the most significant physical component of the theory of evolution?

The most significant physical component of the theory of evolution is the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is the process by which organisms with advantageous traits for survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation, leading to the gradual change of species over time.

Where can you find the answers to the ny state lab relationships and biodiversity?

You can find the answers to the NY State lab "Relationships and Biodiversity" in the teacher's manual that accompanies the lab or by searching for answer keys online. It's important to use these resources responsibly and make sure you understand the concepts before relying solely on the answers.

Why are jointed appendages considered an important adaptation during the evolution of arthopods?

The primary adaptation of an arthropod is not the jointed appendage, funnily enough it's what covers the rest of it.

Chiten, the hard exoskeleton of arthropods allowed them to evolve in millions of different shapes and forms, while at the same time providing a protective armour casing.

Ever wonder why the insect life was not affeced by Chernobyll, or why a crayfish doesn't cook in a microwave? The exoskeleton in Arthropods is the key to their success - they, along with other invertebrates, take up 75% of all life on the planet.

Why are bacteria often used in biological studies?

They are less complex and their genomes are easily manipulated. The plasmids in bacteria provide an oppertunity for simple genetic recombination exercises. Bacteria can be easily made to be lab dependent so that if an accidental release occured there would be no contamination because the bacteria can not live outside the lab environment.

Who proposed mutation theory of evolution?

Hugo de Vries is the one who proposed theory of mutation . He said 'Mutation are discontinuous variations. These are due to changes in chromosomes, genes and DNA and may or may not be inherited.'.

Stabilizing selection results in more or less genetic diversity?

Stabilizing selection typically results in less genetic diversity because it selects against extreme phenotypes, narrowing the range of traits present in a population. This leads to the preservation of intermediate phenotypes that are favored by the selective pressures, reducing overall genetic variation.

How do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium similar?

Both gradualism and punctuated equilibrium are theories of evolution that describe the pace at which species evolve over time. Both theories acknowledge that evolution occurs, albeit at different rates. Gradualism posits slow, continuous changes over long periods, while punctuated equilibrium suggests that long periods of stability are punctuated by sudden bursts of rapid change. Both theories emphasize the importance of natural selection in driving evolution.

Why is Charles Darwin's theory of evolution more than a guess?

Because there's supporting evidence for it. Lots of supporting evidence. Overwhelming, awe-inspiring amounts of supporting evidence.

A scientific theory is not just a guess. My chemistry teacher explained it this way: a theory is something we can explain (the theory of evolution or the theory of relativity). A law is something we can't explain (the law of gravity. We know it works, we're just not sure exactly why or how).

Charles Darwin spent years developing his hypothesis of natural selection. There is ample evidence supporting his final theory, some found long after his death. To this day, archeologists still find fossil evidence that fits into Darwin's explanation of changing species.

What was Darwin's evidence in the Darwin theory?

Darwin collected thousands of specimens across the world. Like other naturalists before him, Darwin noted similarities in the species that contributed to their classification. But Darwin also had fossils detailing changes that had occurred over vast stretches of time.

Darwin noted pigeon breeders could introduce stable changes in a population via a process of artificial selection. He also saw that nature introduced its own changes in species. Although there is a huge diversity of life, Darwin saw how it was organized and how it must have changed over the ages. Not long after he published his theory, a fossil of Archeopteryx was discovered, showing the link between birds and dinosaurs. Later fossils of Neandertal were discovered, demonstrating the existence of multiple hominid species in prehistoric ages past.

How will a population change over time?

A population can change over time due to factors like birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration. High birth rates can lead to population growth, while high death rates can lead to a decline. Immigration can increase the population, while emigration can decrease it. Environmental factors, public health policies, and socio-economic conditions can also impact population changes.

How does evolution affect all living organisms?

Evolution is the process by which living organisms change over time in response to their environment, leading to the emergence of new species and the extinction of others. It affects all living organisms by driving genetic diversity, adaptation to changing conditions, and the development of new traits that enhance survival and reproduction. Through evolution, organisms become better suited to their environments, ultimately contributing to the diversity of life on Earth.

How does fitness relate to evolution?

Fitness to a biologist means ' reproductive fitness. ' The variant organism that survives against the immediate environment and leaves more descendants that the other organisms of his population is fit. These descendant's this organism leaves change the allele frequency of the populations gene pool and this is the definition of evolution.

What can evolution be supported by?

Observation, Fossil evidence, Molecular Evidence (Comparing DNA and proteins) etc.

Human chromosome 2 is widely accepted to be a result of an end-to-end fusion of two ancestral chromosomes.

EVIDENCE:

  • The correspondence of chromosome 2 to two ape chromosomes. The closest human relative, the chimpanzee, has near-identical DNA sequences to human chromosome 2, but they are found in two separate chromosomes. The same is true of the more distant gorilla and orangutan.
  • The presence of a vestigial centromere. Normally a chromosome has just one centromere, but in chromosome 2 there are remnants of a second centromere.
  • The presence of vestigial telomeres. These are normally found only at the ends of a chromosome, but in chromosome 2 there are additional telomere sequences in the middle.
  • Chromosome 2 presents very strong evidence in favour of the common descent of humans and other apes. According to researcher J. W. IJdo, "We conclude that the locus cloned in cosmids c8.1 and c29B is the relic of an ancient telomere-telomere fusion and marks the point at which two ancestral ape chromosomes fused to give rise to human chromosome 2."

That's just one of thousands!

How does Darwin's theory of evolution explain microevolution but not macroevolution?

Those terms need to be done away with. There is no such division in the theory of evolution by natural selection, even in Darwin's time. There is evolution and speciation. One flows seamlessly into the other over time and we have myriad pieces of evidence supporting this.

Why is evolution considerd a theory?

Evolution, the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, is a fact. The theory of evolution by natural selection explains much of this fact.

That is what a theory is. A consistent explanation of a phenomenon, or a series of phenomenon, that is supported by massive amounts of evidence, containing both facts and laws and is able to make predictions that generate testable hypothesis.

A theory, in the scientific sense, is not a guess.

How can comparing organisms can provide evidence that they have ancestors in common?

Comparing organisms can show similarities in their DNA, anatomical structures, and developmental processes. These similarities suggest that the organisms share a common ancestor and have evolved from it through the process of descent with modification. By studying these similarities, scientists can trace the evolutionary history of different species and understand how they are related through common ancestry.

What is speciaion?

Speciation is the process by which new species arise from a common ancestor. This can happen through various mechanisms such as geographic isolation, genetic mutations, and natural selection. Over time, different populations may accumulate enough genetic differences to become reproductively isolated and develop into distinct species.

Which of these humans is the fittest as far as natural selection is concerned?

The individual who is most likely to be considered the fittest in terms of natural selection would be the one who is most successful at reproducing and passing on their genes to the next generation. Fitness in evolutionary terms is about how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment, so the individual with the most offspring who survive would be considered the fittest.

What is a natural variation in a population?

Look at a population of humans. Your class will do. Now, how many different heights, hair colors and other assorted phenotypic variations can you see in this small population?This is the frequency of alleles of these types that we call natural variation.

How can natural selection cause the appearance of a new species?

Evolution causes the appearance of a new species through mutations in exisiting lifeforms. Natural selection is the method through which species become greater or lesser in numbers. For example, if you have a bunch of blue butterflies and a bunch of brown butterflies in a forest that is primarily brown,green, and black, then the blue butterflies have a greater chance of being eaten by predators than the brown butterflies because the brown ones could camoflauge themselves next to a tree. The blue ones would decrease in numbers and not be the most "fit" for their environment due to this process of natural selection.

Hope that rambling answer helped :)

Are there any unintended consequences with the theory of evoulation?

One unintended consequence of the theory of evolution is the misconception that it promotes the notion of "survival of the fittest" as a justification for social inequality or unethical behavior. This misinterpretation can lead to misunderstandings about the complexities of evolution and human behavior. Additionally, some may use evolution to support eugenic ideologies, which can have harmful implications for society.

What is the role of natural selection in convergent evolution?

If it is easier or more likely that an organsim is going to survive and reproduce if that organism works together with another or takes advantage of a certain opportunity, natural selection will favor the organisms that are more suited to maintaining their realtionship with the other organism.

What is an example of micro-evolution?

An example of micro-evolution is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria due to natural selection. When exposed to antibiotics, bacteria with genetic mutations that provide resistance to the drug survive and reproduce, passing on the resistant trait to future generations. Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria in the population increases, leading to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains.

What effect does genetic drift have on organisms?

Genetic Drift (or allelic drift) is the pseudo-random chance that a minor genetic change will eventually become a fixed genetic inheritance in a specific organism. IT is the underlying principal in the theory of evolution. There are many equations and probabilities involved, but the basic explanation is that as the number of generations with the genetic change increases, so does the chance that the change will become the norm, rather than the aberration.