Evolution Study Guide



Name: ____ANSWER SHEET_____ Period: ________ Date: _____________Evolution D.A. Study GuideTest Date: __________________Use this worksheet as a guideline to help you study for the upcoming Evolution District Assessment. Answers can be found in your textbook, journal entries, directed readings, and notes we have done during this unit.Part 1: Evolution and Geologic TimeWhat is an adaptation? List some examples of animals and the adaptations that help them survive.A characteristic that improves an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environmentExamples- Long neck, striped fur Define evolution.The process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise.How can one population branch off into two different species over time?Through the three steps of speciation-1. Isolation (separation) 2. Adaptation (through Natural Selection) 3. DivergenceWhat is a fossil? How do fossils form? Why is the fossil record so incomplete?The remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes. They are formed when a dead organism is covered by layer of sediment. Over time, more sediment settles on top of the organism. Minerals in the sediment may seep into the organism and gradually replace the organism with stone. If the organism rots away completely after being covered, it may leave an imprint of itself in the rock.The organism has to be “lucky.” The right conditions have to be met and then if it becomes a fossil, it must be discovered. What is a homology? Give some examples.The similarity of the body parts in animals that share a common ancestor (they have inherited the same traits). Example- Forelimbs of mammals/vertebratesWhat is an analogy? Give some examples.Similar characteristics that evolved independently in different species (NOT inherited from the same common ancestor). Convergent evolution- When two unrelated species converge on the same adaptation for a similar function.What is a vestigial structure? Give some examples.A body part that no longer serves any function.Human - Appendix, tailbone, wisdom teeth, goose bumps, ear muscles; Animal - pelvic bone in whales and snakesHow does the fossil record provide evidence for evolution?Provides evidence about the order in which species have existed. Scientist observe that all living organisms have characteristics in common and inherit characteristics in similar ways. Scientists think that all living species descended from common ancestors. Evidence of these ancestors are found in the fossil record.What do mutations in DNA have to do with evolution?Mutation is a random change/mistake in the genetic code (DNA). A mutation could change the gene enough to lead to a different trait that could be passed on to offspring.Who is Charles Darwin? What did he do? Charles Darwin was a naturalist who developed the theory of natural selection (which was the first correct mechanism for evolution)How did Thomas Malthus influence Darwin’s thinking?Malthus pointed out that the human population over-reproduces and there were more people than what their resources could support.What type of evidence (that is available today) did Darwin lack that now help support his theory? DNA (genetics)What is Natural Selection?What are the five parts of natural selection? Overproduction – Inherited Variation – Struggle to Survive – Successful Reproduction - AdaptationHow did the Peppered moth display natural selection?Individual moths cannot decide to change their color. The population had 2 varieties (light and dark) because of a random mutation. The dark variety was able to survive on the dark trees while the light ones were not. What is selective breeding? Give some examples.Human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired characteristics. Examples: Dogs, fruits/vegetablesExamples of natural selection (review pages 122 – 123)How is the example of the tuskless elephants an example of natural selection?People hunt elephants for their tusks (ivory is very valuable). As a result, fewer of the elephants that have tusks survive to reproduce, and more of the tuskless elephants survive. When the tuskless elephant go on and reproduce, they pass the tuskless trait to their offspring Insecticide or antibiotic resistanceAn insecticide will kill most insects, but a few may survive. These survivors have genes that make them resistant to the insecticide. The survivors reproduce and pass the insecticide resistance genes to their offspring. In time, the replacement population of insect is made up of mostly individuals that have the insecticide resistance genes. What is the difference between absolute and relative dating? Absolute Dating- method of measuring the age of an object or event in yearsRelative Dating- method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objectsWhich type is more accurate? Absolute DatingWhat do scientists examine for each type of method?Absolute Dating- radioactive decay of atoms (half-life)Relative Dating- estimating the age of rocks and fossils based on its position in sedimentary rockPrecambrian TimeWhat type of gas did cyanobacteria put into Earth’s early atmosphere? ___oxygen__How did this gas benefit the rest of life on earth? Some of the oxygen formed a new layer of gas in the upper atmosphere. This gas, now called ozone, absorbs harmful radiation from the sun. Before ozone formed, life existed only in the oceans and underground. The new ozone layer reduced the radiation on Earth’s surfacePaleozoic EraGreek meaning: “___ Ancient Life___”?Age of the “Invertebrates, Fish and Amphibians”Beginning of most of today’s modern phyla (mollusks, arthropods, vertebrates, echinoderms, etc.)Mesozoic EraGreek meaning: “_____Middle Life_____”?Age of the ___Reptiles__?Dinosaur extinctionWhat and where is the Chicxulub Meteorite impact crater? It is the crater that was created by a meteor that hit the earth at the end of the Mesozoic era. It is located in modern day Mexico (in the Gulf of Mexico).What is the K-T boundary? Cenozoic EraGreek meaning: “___Recent Life____”?Age of the ___mammals____? ................
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