UW Madison Bio 101 EXAM 4 latest solution update 2023.

What is biological evolution? - Heritable change in a population across many generations. What is the difference between microevolution and macroevolution? - Microevolution is on a small scale. It is a change in a single gene. Macroevolution is on a large scale and results in the formation of a new species. What is a scientific theory (definition)? - A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations. What is catastrophism? - The idea presented by Georges Cuvier that major disturbances cause change (in strata fossil record). What is uniformitarianism? - The idea of Charles Lyell that gradual changes occur over time due to natural processes (in the strata fossil record). What is the mechanism responsible for change in a species over time? - Natural Selection Describe fitness. - The ability of an organism to pass its genes to the next generation. Includes surviving, finding a mate, and reproducing a new generation of offspring. Fitness depends on the environment in which an organism lives. What are homologous structures? - Functionally different features with similar construction due to common ancestry. What are vestigial structures? - Anatomical features with no apparent function, but resemble structures of presumed ancestors. What are hox genes? - Pattern-forming genes that guide body plans. What are analogous structures? - Perform the same or similar function, but evolved separately.