BIO 250 Exam 2 Study Guide And Actual
Answers.
What is relative fitness? - Answer The survival and/or reproductive rate of a genotype (or phenotype)
relative to the maximum survival and/or reproductive rate of other genotypes in the population.
Name the obstacles of passing on genes (agents of selection) - Answer Survival:
Find Food
Avoid Predators/Parasites
Compete/Cooperate with others
Protection from elements
Reproduction:
Find mate
Surplus enefery to make offspring
Care for offspring
Defend mating territory
Define putative adaptation - Answer Term used to describe an entity or a concept that is based on what
is generally accepted or inferred even without direct proof of it, meaning it denotes something
Polar bear black skin example and clear hair example.
What are the 4 different types of studies? - Answer 1. Observational Study/Natural Experiment
2. Controlled Experiment
3. Comparative Methods
4. Computer Simulation
Understand the Human Adaptation to High Elevation - Answer At high elevation, the oxygen levels in
the air are low. Humans need to adapt to be able to still obtain sufficient oxygen in these conditions.
Tibetans: inhale more air with each breath and breathe more rapidly
, Andeans: Increased capacity to carry oxygen in hemoglobin; increased number of RBCs
Ethiopians: THRB and ARNT are known to play a role in the HIF-1 pathway, a pathway implicated in
previous work reported in Tibetan and Andean studies.
Understand fly wings, controlled experiment - Answer Zonosemata flies have wing markings and wave
their wings when they are threatened in order to scare off predators. Apparently the wing markings look
like a spider (mimicry) when they are waved around.
The experiment was conducted to see if the markings on the wings, the waving or a combination of both
are the reason they are able to deter predators.
RESULTS: When the wing markings or the waving is not present the likelihood that the fly is stalked and
attacked/ killed by jumping spiders is significantly increased.
Understand bat comparative method - Answer Testis size in bats should have a positive correlation with
group size (the more males that are in the group the larger the testis are which is indicative of more
sperm in the testis and is a favorable sign of better fertility).
What is Phenotypic Plasticity? - Answer Variation under environmental influence, in the phenotype
associated with a genotype.
Vp=Vg + Ve
You can have the same gene, but depending on your environment different genes are expressed.
What are the tradeoffs to human birth? - Answer Narrow Pelvis: A wide pelvis is needed to birth large
headed babies, but a narrow pelvis is needed to walk or run efficiently.
Explain Phylogenetic constraints - Answer Each species, population, individual inherits a 'history'.
Limitations on future evolutionary pathways that have been imposed by previous adaptations.
Explain Developmental constraints - Answer Major body plans, developmental pathways, etc.
determine many traits, allowing only certain options under which selection can operate
What are the strategies for asking interesting evolutionary medicine questions? - Answer Study natural
history
Question conventional wisdom
Answers.
What is relative fitness? - Answer The survival and/or reproductive rate of a genotype (or phenotype)
relative to the maximum survival and/or reproductive rate of other genotypes in the population.
Name the obstacles of passing on genes (agents of selection) - Answer Survival:
Find Food
Avoid Predators/Parasites
Compete/Cooperate with others
Protection from elements
Reproduction:
Find mate
Surplus enefery to make offspring
Care for offspring
Defend mating territory
Define putative adaptation - Answer Term used to describe an entity or a concept that is based on what
is generally accepted or inferred even without direct proof of it, meaning it denotes something
Polar bear black skin example and clear hair example.
What are the 4 different types of studies? - Answer 1. Observational Study/Natural Experiment
2. Controlled Experiment
3. Comparative Methods
4. Computer Simulation
Understand the Human Adaptation to High Elevation - Answer At high elevation, the oxygen levels in
the air are low. Humans need to adapt to be able to still obtain sufficient oxygen in these conditions.
Tibetans: inhale more air with each breath and breathe more rapidly
, Andeans: Increased capacity to carry oxygen in hemoglobin; increased number of RBCs
Ethiopians: THRB and ARNT are known to play a role in the HIF-1 pathway, a pathway implicated in
previous work reported in Tibetan and Andean studies.
Understand fly wings, controlled experiment - Answer Zonosemata flies have wing markings and wave
their wings when they are threatened in order to scare off predators. Apparently the wing markings look
like a spider (mimicry) when they are waved around.
The experiment was conducted to see if the markings on the wings, the waving or a combination of both
are the reason they are able to deter predators.
RESULTS: When the wing markings or the waving is not present the likelihood that the fly is stalked and
attacked/ killed by jumping spiders is significantly increased.
Understand bat comparative method - Answer Testis size in bats should have a positive correlation with
group size (the more males that are in the group the larger the testis are which is indicative of more
sperm in the testis and is a favorable sign of better fertility).
What is Phenotypic Plasticity? - Answer Variation under environmental influence, in the phenotype
associated with a genotype.
Vp=Vg + Ve
You can have the same gene, but depending on your environment different genes are expressed.
What are the tradeoffs to human birth? - Answer Narrow Pelvis: A wide pelvis is needed to birth large
headed babies, but a narrow pelvis is needed to walk or run efficiently.
Explain Phylogenetic constraints - Answer Each species, population, individual inherits a 'history'.
Limitations on future evolutionary pathways that have been imposed by previous adaptations.
Explain Developmental constraints - Answer Major body plans, developmental pathways, etc.
determine many traits, allowing only certain options under which selection can operate
What are the strategies for asking interesting evolutionary medicine questions? - Answer Study natural
history
Question conventional wisdom
