BIO 1500 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Memorize the four postulates of natural selection. - ANSWER--Individuals vary in
their traits
-Some of the variation is heritable - passed to offspring
-More offspring are produced than survive to reproduce
-Survival and reproduction are non-random; those with favorable traits reproduce
most and pass their alleles to the next generation
Organize an example of selection into the individual steps and identify the four
postulates of natural selection in the example. - ANSWER--Take human beings for
example, some of us have brown hair, or black, or blonde, or red, or a blend of
multiple. This is an example of individuals vary in their traits.
-If you have kids they will get whatever hair color trait is more dominant between the
two parents. This is an example of some of the variation is heritable - passed to
offspring
-If red haired people were getting eaten, then they would have a lesser chance of
survival. If lots of children are being produced with red hair and only some survive,
then lots of children with red hair would be produced but only some would survive.
This is an example of more offspring are produced than surviving to reproduce.
-If hair haired children are surviving as long as children with other colored hair then
then they have a better chance of survival and they will produce more children for
future generations. This is an example of Survival and reproduction are non-random;
those with favorable traits reproduce most and pass their alleles to the next
generation.
Recall the definitions of Evolution, population, adaptation, and fitness. - ANSWER-
Evolution: a change in allele frequencies in a population
Population: a group of individuals that interbreed and reproduce
Fitness: ability to survive and reproduce in an environment
Adaption: trait that increases fitness of individuals with this trait relative to others
without it.
Apply these definitions to examples of populations and individuals. - ANSWER--
White/black mice
-Mutation occurred causing dark fur in mice
-Birds attacked white mice more, leaving dark fur because they could camouflage
-Dark fur mice became more common because they reproduced to each other.
Recognize that mutations occur randomly - ANSWER--Occur when there is a DNA
copying mistake during cell division
-Alters the genetic message carried by a gene
, Assess the different outcomes of the oxygen revolution regarding their
consequences for life on earth and for earth's geology and atmosphere. - ANSWER--
Minerals formed (banded iron ore)
-Ozone layer in the atmosphere formed - protects us from UV light
-All of the free O2 was toxic to the cells which lead to a global mass extinction of
organisms
-O2 reacted with the greenhouse gas Methane, which removed it from the
atmosphere
-Caused the Snowball Ice Age (2.4-2.1 bya)
Describe the relationships between the terms chromosome, gene, allele, and DNA. -
ANSWER--DNA is arranged on chromosomes in segments called genes. One gene
tells the cell how to make one protein. Different variations of a gene are called
alleles.
-Gene: A segment of DNA with instructions for building a protein molecule
-Alleles: Different possible forms of the same gene
-Chromosome: Carries genetic information
-DNA: "The genetic coding"
-Chromosomes, gene, and alleles make up DNA
Describe the difference between the various alleles of a gene. - ANSWER--Alleles
are different possible forms of the same gene.
-Differ in DNA sequence and therefore in protein structure they code for
-May be many possible alleles of the same gene
-Any 1 person can have maximum of 2 different alleles (because two copies of each
chromosome)
Explain why one person can have a maximum of two different alleles of a gene. -
ANSWER-There can only be two copies of each chromosome (from each parent)
Recognize Natural Selection as the most fundamental process and characteristic of
life. - ANSWER--Most fundamental process in all biology
-All organisms are subject to natural selection (no organisms can escape it)
-Natural selection is one of the several mechanisms of evolutionary processes that
cause allele frequencies to change.
Categorize different energy forms as 'kinetic' or 'potential' - ANSWER--Kinetic energy
is energy in motion
-Potential energy is stationary with stored energy to be released
Apply the First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-The First Law of
Thermodynamics states that heat energy is energy and therefore can't be created or
destroyed; it could be applied in the way that objects that are affected by heat energy
involve the transfer of energy. Like a baseball being thrown, it has lots of energy right
after being thrown but as time goes on the ball cools down and slows down.
Compare visible light energy with the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum: how is it
similar, what makes it special to us? - ANSWER--Visible light- the rainbow colors
flipped (VIBGYOR)
EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Memorize the four postulates of natural selection. - ANSWER--Individuals vary in
their traits
-Some of the variation is heritable - passed to offspring
-More offspring are produced than survive to reproduce
-Survival and reproduction are non-random; those with favorable traits reproduce
most and pass their alleles to the next generation
Organize an example of selection into the individual steps and identify the four
postulates of natural selection in the example. - ANSWER--Take human beings for
example, some of us have brown hair, or black, or blonde, or red, or a blend of
multiple. This is an example of individuals vary in their traits.
-If you have kids they will get whatever hair color trait is more dominant between the
two parents. This is an example of some of the variation is heritable - passed to
offspring
-If red haired people were getting eaten, then they would have a lesser chance of
survival. If lots of children are being produced with red hair and only some survive,
then lots of children with red hair would be produced but only some would survive.
This is an example of more offspring are produced than surviving to reproduce.
-If hair haired children are surviving as long as children with other colored hair then
then they have a better chance of survival and they will produce more children for
future generations. This is an example of Survival and reproduction are non-random;
those with favorable traits reproduce most and pass their alleles to the next
generation.
Recall the definitions of Evolution, population, adaptation, and fitness. - ANSWER-
Evolution: a change in allele frequencies in a population
Population: a group of individuals that interbreed and reproduce
Fitness: ability to survive and reproduce in an environment
Adaption: trait that increases fitness of individuals with this trait relative to others
without it.
Apply these definitions to examples of populations and individuals. - ANSWER--
White/black mice
-Mutation occurred causing dark fur in mice
-Birds attacked white mice more, leaving dark fur because they could camouflage
-Dark fur mice became more common because they reproduced to each other.
Recognize that mutations occur randomly - ANSWER--Occur when there is a DNA
copying mistake during cell division
-Alters the genetic message carried by a gene
, Assess the different outcomes of the oxygen revolution regarding their
consequences for life on earth and for earth's geology and atmosphere. - ANSWER--
Minerals formed (banded iron ore)
-Ozone layer in the atmosphere formed - protects us from UV light
-All of the free O2 was toxic to the cells which lead to a global mass extinction of
organisms
-O2 reacted with the greenhouse gas Methane, which removed it from the
atmosphere
-Caused the Snowball Ice Age (2.4-2.1 bya)
Describe the relationships between the terms chromosome, gene, allele, and DNA. -
ANSWER--DNA is arranged on chromosomes in segments called genes. One gene
tells the cell how to make one protein. Different variations of a gene are called
alleles.
-Gene: A segment of DNA with instructions for building a protein molecule
-Alleles: Different possible forms of the same gene
-Chromosome: Carries genetic information
-DNA: "The genetic coding"
-Chromosomes, gene, and alleles make up DNA
Describe the difference between the various alleles of a gene. - ANSWER--Alleles
are different possible forms of the same gene.
-Differ in DNA sequence and therefore in protein structure they code for
-May be many possible alleles of the same gene
-Any 1 person can have maximum of 2 different alleles (because two copies of each
chromosome)
Explain why one person can have a maximum of two different alleles of a gene. -
ANSWER-There can only be two copies of each chromosome (from each parent)
Recognize Natural Selection as the most fundamental process and characteristic of
life. - ANSWER--Most fundamental process in all biology
-All organisms are subject to natural selection (no organisms can escape it)
-Natural selection is one of the several mechanisms of evolutionary processes that
cause allele frequencies to change.
Categorize different energy forms as 'kinetic' or 'potential' - ANSWER--Kinetic energy
is energy in motion
-Potential energy is stationary with stored energy to be released
Apply the First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-The First Law of
Thermodynamics states that heat energy is energy and therefore can't be created or
destroyed; it could be applied in the way that objects that are affected by heat energy
involve the transfer of energy. Like a baseball being thrown, it has lots of energy right
after being thrown but as time goes on the ball cools down and slows down.
Compare visible light energy with the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum: how is it
similar, what makes it special to us? - ANSWER--Visible light- the rainbow colors
flipped (VIBGYOR)
