Bio 250 Exam #2 || A+ Graded Already.
What is relative fitness? correct answers the contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of
the next generation relative to the contributions of other individuals
Name the obstacles of passing on genes ("agents of selection") correct answers Survival - find
food, avoid predators/ parasites, compete/cooperate with others, protection from elements
Reproduction - find mate, surplus energy to make offspring, care for offspring, defend mating
territor
Define putative adaptation. Give an example correct answers Adaptations that do not have solid
evidence, but are generally accepted or inferred
Polar bear:
big paws → swim
dark skin under white fur → heat absorbance
Hair has no pigment → hunting camouflage
What are the 4 different types of studies? correct answers Observational study/ natural
experiment, controlled experiment, comparative methods, computer simulation
Understand the Human Adaptation to High Elevation correct answers Observational study: most
societies evolved the ability to maintain low levels of haemoglobin, but others...
Tibetana: not elevated hemoglobin instead:
inhale more air with each breath
breathe more rapidly
Andes: increased capacity to carry oxygen in hemoglobin; increased number of RBCs
Ethiopia: *Convergent Evolution* 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
(combination of both societies evolutionary traits)
Understand fly wings, controlled experiment correct answers Controlled experiment: 'straw man'
fallacy - distorted and exaggerated claim from another's point then to use it to their advantage
and claim it as their own. Using another predator's strength as their own when it does not belong
to them originally (mimicry).
5 types of flies: (in the fly wings experiment) correct answers Zonosemata has wig markings)
Zonosemata untreated
Zonosemata with own wing cut off and re glued on - control group
Zonosemata with House-fly wings glued on - effect of waving
House-fly with Zonosemata wings glued on - effect of wing markings
Housefly untreated
Compared what 3 things (fly wings experiment) correct answers No mimicry - jumping spider +
other predators always attacked
Mimicry deters other predators - other predators didn't attack untreated and the wing cut off
Zonosemata. Everything else attacks.
, Mimicry deters jumping spiders - Jumping spiders didn't attack untreated and the wing cut off
zonosemata. Everything else attacks
Understand bat comparative method correct answers Comparative method: sperm competition
and testis size
The prediction you can assume:
testis size increases as group size increases
Larger testis size adds to the group size due to sperm competition
What is Phenotypic Plasticity? correct answers Variation, under environmental influence, in the
phenotype associated with a genotype. (Vp = Vg+Ve Phenotype based on genotype and
environment expressed). *Evolutionary Medicine connection ex. Sensitivity to alcohol*
"Reaction norms" → umbrella compartmentalizations
Can also be defined as the ability for one genotype to produce multiple phenotypes
What are the tradeoffs to human birth? correct answers Obstetrical hypothesis- in order to have
babies with big brains and for the mother to still be able to walk and run, this means a narrow
cervix, which makes labor time longer and more painful. Baby is inside to let the brain grow big
but needs to be delivered before it is too big to fit through the narrow pelvis/birth canal
Explain Phylogenetic constraints correct answers Each species inherits a "history", yesterday's
adaptation is today's constraint.
Explain Developmental constraints correct answers Major body plans, developmental pathways,
determine many traits → only certain options upon which selection can operate.
Don't want to regress to old traits, just to evolve one new one
What are the strategies for asking interesting evolutionary medicine questions? correct answers
Study natural history
Question conventional wisdom
Question assumptions underlying popular hypothesis
Draw analogies from field to field
Ask "why not?"
Like breaking the ophelia syndrome
What are the different types of reproduction? correct answers Sexual - outcross - separate sexes
Asexual - self fertilization - hermaphroditic
How and why have these different strategies evolved? (reproduction) correct answers Genetic
variation: needed for long-term persistence of a species (any mechanism that increases genetic
variation = should be favored)
Why is increased genetic variation favored? correct answers With sexual ancestors =
evolutionary traits
Asexual = don't last long enough for evoluationary time
What is relative fitness? correct answers the contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of
the next generation relative to the contributions of other individuals
Name the obstacles of passing on genes ("agents of selection") correct answers Survival - find
food, avoid predators/ parasites, compete/cooperate with others, protection from elements
Reproduction - find mate, surplus energy to make offspring, care for offspring, defend mating
territor
Define putative adaptation. Give an example correct answers Adaptations that do not have solid
evidence, but are generally accepted or inferred
Polar bear:
big paws → swim
dark skin under white fur → heat absorbance
Hair has no pigment → hunting camouflage
What are the 4 different types of studies? correct answers Observational study/ natural
experiment, controlled experiment, comparative methods, computer simulation
Understand the Human Adaptation to High Elevation correct answers Observational study: most
societies evolved the ability to maintain low levels of haemoglobin, but others...
Tibetana: not elevated hemoglobin instead:
inhale more air with each breath
breathe more rapidly
Andes: increased capacity to carry oxygen in hemoglobin; increased number of RBCs
Ethiopia: *Convergent Evolution* 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
(combination of both societies evolutionary traits)
Understand fly wings, controlled experiment correct answers Controlled experiment: 'straw man'
fallacy - distorted and exaggerated claim from another's point then to use it to their advantage
and claim it as their own. Using another predator's strength as their own when it does not belong
to them originally (mimicry).
5 types of flies: (in the fly wings experiment) correct answers Zonosemata has wig markings)
Zonosemata untreated
Zonosemata with own wing cut off and re glued on - control group
Zonosemata with House-fly wings glued on - effect of waving
House-fly with Zonosemata wings glued on - effect of wing markings
Housefly untreated
Compared what 3 things (fly wings experiment) correct answers No mimicry - jumping spider +
other predators always attacked
Mimicry deters other predators - other predators didn't attack untreated and the wing cut off
Zonosemata. Everything else attacks.
, Mimicry deters jumping spiders - Jumping spiders didn't attack untreated and the wing cut off
zonosemata. Everything else attacks
Understand bat comparative method correct answers Comparative method: sperm competition
and testis size
The prediction you can assume:
testis size increases as group size increases
Larger testis size adds to the group size due to sperm competition
What is Phenotypic Plasticity? correct answers Variation, under environmental influence, in the
phenotype associated with a genotype. (Vp = Vg+Ve Phenotype based on genotype and
environment expressed). *Evolutionary Medicine connection ex. Sensitivity to alcohol*
"Reaction norms" → umbrella compartmentalizations
Can also be defined as the ability for one genotype to produce multiple phenotypes
What are the tradeoffs to human birth? correct answers Obstetrical hypothesis- in order to have
babies with big brains and for the mother to still be able to walk and run, this means a narrow
cervix, which makes labor time longer and more painful. Baby is inside to let the brain grow big
but needs to be delivered before it is too big to fit through the narrow pelvis/birth canal
Explain Phylogenetic constraints correct answers Each species inherits a "history", yesterday's
adaptation is today's constraint.
Explain Developmental constraints correct answers Major body plans, developmental pathways,
determine many traits → only certain options upon which selection can operate.
Don't want to regress to old traits, just to evolve one new one
What are the strategies for asking interesting evolutionary medicine questions? correct answers
Study natural history
Question conventional wisdom
Question assumptions underlying popular hypothesis
Draw analogies from field to field
Ask "why not?"
Like breaking the ophelia syndrome
What are the different types of reproduction? correct answers Sexual - outcross - separate sexes
Asexual - self fertilization - hermaphroditic
How and why have these different strategies evolved? (reproduction) correct answers Genetic
variation: needed for long-term persistence of a species (any mechanism that increases genetic
variation = should be favored)
Why is increased genetic variation favored? correct answers With sexual ancestors =
evolutionary traits
Asexual = don't last long enough for evoluationary time
