Evolution Exam 1 | questions and answers 2023/2024

EVOL Exam #1 | with complete solution GRADED A+ What is a random component of evolution via natural selection? - Errors in DNA replication What evidence is there for the evolution of cetaceans? - Fossils Synapomorphies Phylogeny based on fossils Analysis of isotopic ratios Present day observations of gene expression Phylogeny based on DNA of extant marine cetaceans What evidence is there for the evolution of viruses? - Direct observation of new adaptations and species arising within a human life time Synapomorphies Present day observations of gene expression Phylogeny based on DNA of extant marine cetaceans Reassortment of DNA to create new evolutionary lineages What are the similarities and difference in the evolution of marine cetaceans and viruses? - The evolution of marine cetaceans and viruses are similar because adaptations occur through genetic mutations based on environment for both organisms. Natural selection occurs as new adaptations are favored in an environment, occurring as a result of specific gene expression. One of the differences in the evolutions between marine cetaceans and viruses is that evolution in marine cetaceans takes a lot longer than evolution in viruses. Evolution in marine cetaceans takes thousands of years, while evolution of viruses could be observed over the course of weeks or even days. Viruses also use viral reassortment, exchanging genetic information with the host cell in order to infect new hosts, while marine cetaceans do not. What is evolution? - The change in allele or trait frequencies from one generation to the next What was "creationism" called when it was accepted as the best explanation for life? When was that? Who wrote the the book? - Natural Theology, William Paley, 1802 Carolus Linnaeus: What is this person known for? - Classification of life into taxonomic hierarchy Robert Hooke: What is this person known for? - Idea that bodies are natural machines Gorges Buffon: What is this person known for? - Proponent of evolution before Darwin was born Gorges Cuvier: What is this person known for? - Father of paleontology, argued that evolution could not occur due to gaps in the fossil record Jean Baptiste-Lamarck: What is this person known for? - Adaptation occurs through the inheritance of acquired changes (giraffes' necks) Thomas Malthus: What is this person known for? - populations, poor compete for limited resources, populations grow faster than our ability to increase food availability Alfred Russel Wallace: What is this person known for? - patterned life after Darwin, independently arrived at theory of evolution via natural selection based upon work in Indonesia R.A. Fisher: What is this person known for? - Proved quantitative traits, such as, height, can be Mendelian-ly, inherited if several genes are, involved, "a genius who almost single-handedly created the foundations for modern statistical science", "the greatest biologist since Darwin" -Richard Dawkins Sewall Wright: What is this person known for? - genetic drift JBS Haldane: What is this person known for? - incorporating selection into Wright's models of genetic drift Theodosius Dobzhansky: What is this person known for? - merged Mendel's laws of inheritance with Darwin's theory of natural selection Motoo Kimura: What is this person known for? - the neutral theory of molecular evolution True or False: Darwin was an ardent supporter of evolution his whole life - False What is natural theology? - the study of life as a creation; creationism; intelligent design; de