Bio final

What are the characteristics of life?

-cells -reproduce -growth & development -homeostasis -energy (metabolism) -response to environment -universal genetic code -evolve (change over time)

What is a cladogram, and how can we use it to determine common ancestry?

A diagram that is based on patterns of shared, derived traits and that shows the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms. A cladogram uses branching lines that end in a clade, which is a group of organisms sharing a common hypothetical ancestor.

Define adaptation and then describe how a population gets an adaptation.

Adaptation - an inherited trait that increases chance of survival. Can get adaptation through mutation.

What is biogeography?

Biogeography is the study of the locations of organisms around the world.

What determines which adaptation a species will need and develop?

Climate, seasons, natural disasters

What are the three types of biodiversity? What do they contribute to?

Genetic- it affects a population's ability to adapt in the face of environmental change. Species- reflected by both species richness and species evenness. Species richness refers to the number of unique species within an area. This kind of diversity is easiest to notice and is most often what is meant when referring to biodiversity. Ecosystem -Two locations may have the same species richness yet differ in species evenness. For example, suppose that five tree species grow in each of two forests. In one forest, the numbers of each kind of tree are about the same, but in the other forest, one kind of tree far outnumbers the other kinds.

List and describe out the 4 principles of natural selection

Overproduction - is a driving force in natural selection, as it can lead to adaptation and variations in a species. Variation - Any difference between individuals of the same species. Competition - is an interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed. Selection - The process by which organisms that are better suited to their environment than others produce more offspring.

Apply the 4 principles of natural selection and describe the population shift to explain how wolves got the ability to grow and shed a winter coat.

Overproduction- More wolves are born then will survive Variation- Some wolves have a thin coat and some have a thick coat. Competition- The wolves with the thick coat will survive the cold winter and shed during the summer. Selection- Those that survived were able to reproduce and pass the favorable trait onto their offspring.

How do human embryos compare to embryos of other animals?

Patterns of embryological development can indicate a common ancestry

analogous

SAME function {fly] different STRUCTURE [just because they fly ...doesn't mean you should assume they are related] totally made of different things structurally

What do homologous structures show about two organisms?

Share a common ancestor.

Describe what happens to a population over time as natural selection occurs.

Those with favorable traits survive and reproduce, spreading the trait.

How do we compare two organisms' DNA, and what does it mean if their DNA is similar?

[if the dna sequences are similar [not many differences you can say they are closely related]

What evidence do fossils provide for evolution?

different types of organisms appeared at different times and places on Earth. lots of ancient land walking whale fossils are found in EGYPT among sea creatures

Define fitness

in biology fitness is when an organism survives BUT not ONLY survives—--they reproduce {have babies]

Define homologous structures and analogous structures.

root homo means same SAME STRUCTURE different function. Only homologus structures are used as evidence for evolution—ANALOGOUS IS NOT USED.

What is analogous structure?

structures that have the same function (may look somewhat alike), but have different structures and DO NOT have a common descent

What is a vestigial organ? Give two examples of vestigial organs.

that have little to no function; Example: wisdom teeth, tailbone, appendix

What is the most effective way to prove that two organisms are related?

vestigial structures that seem to serve no function but that resemble structures with functional roles in related organisms.