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Evolution Concepts and Natural Selection

The document provides definitions and explanations of various biological terms related to evolution, natural selection, and speciation. It includes sections on terminology, diagrams illustrating evolutionary processes, and questions for further exploration. The content appears to be structured for educational purposes, likely as a study guide or examination preparation material.

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mabendisa
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6 views26 pages

Evolution Concepts and Natural Selection

The document provides definitions and explanations of various biological terms related to evolution, natural selection, and speciation. It includes sections on terminology, diagrams illustrating evolutionary processes, and questions for further exploration. The content appears to be structured for educational purposes, likely as a study guide or examination preparation material.

Uploaded by

mabendisa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PART 1

RECOMMENDED PRINT SIZE FOR THIS PAGE – A3


TERMINOLOGY: Practice makes perfect
EXPLANATION TERM
The deliberate breeding of organisms for desirable
characteristics selected by humans.
The explanation that species experience long periods without
physical change, followed by short periods of rapid physical
change.
An explanation for something that has been observed in
nature and which can be supported by facts, laws and tested
hypotheses.
Similar structures on different organisms that suggest they
have a common ancestor.
A tentative explanation of a phenomenon that can be tested.

The distribution of species in different parts of the world.

The present –day distribution of organisms

Evolution with long periods of no change followed by short


periods of rapid change.
Descent with modification over time.

The type of variation in a population with no intermediate


phenotypes.
A testable statement that can be rejected or accepted.

Total disappearance of a species from Earth.

Type of evolution involving long periods of time when species


do not change and short periods of rapid change.

The hypothesis which supports migration of human ancestors


from the point of origin.
A breeding process used for the domestication of plants and
animals.
Type of variation within a population in which there is a range
of intermediate phenotypes.
Present-day distribution of living organisms across the
continents.
2.1 a)
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b) …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.2.1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2.2.2
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2.3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2.4
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2.4.1
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2.4.2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
2.4.3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.4.4 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2.5 Study the diagram below that shows the change in
numbers of black and white mice living in an environment
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with light-coloured sand. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.5.1 What phenomenon is illustrated in the diagram? …………………………………………………………………………………………………

2.5.2 Describe how the sequence of events labelled A, B and


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C represents the phenomenon named in QUESTION (b). …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.5.3 Will the next generation of mouse population more ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
likely be all white or all black? …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.6 Study the diagram of a duck's foot below.
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2.6.1 Ancestors of ducks did not have webbed feet. In terms …………………………………………………………………………………………………
of natural selection, explain how the webbed feet could
have evolved. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2.6.2 The following questions refer to Lamarck's explanation
of evolution: ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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a). Describe the idea proposed by Lamarck to explain
evolution. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
b). State why Lamarck's explanation is not accepted by
most scientists today. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.7 The peppered-moth, Biston betularia, has two phenotypes
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for body colour, dark (blackish) and pale (whitish). The trunks
of the trees on which the moths rest are black in polluted …………………………………………………………………………………………………
environments compared to the white trunks of trees in
………………………………………………………………………………………………...
unpolluted environments. In both unpolluted and polluted
environments, birds are the predators of the moths. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
An investigation was carried out to determine the number of ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
dark and pale peppered-moths present in polluted and …………………………………………………………………………………………………
unpolluted environments using a sampling technique.
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The results of the investigation are shown in the table below
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TYPE OF DARK PALE
ENVIRONMENT MOTHS MOTHS ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
Polluted 150 40 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Unpolluted 30 170
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2.7.1 Formulate a hypothesis for the above investigation.
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2.7.2 Suggest THREE factors that might have decreased the
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validity of this investigation.
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2.7.3 Using the table and your understanding of natural selection,
explain the results for the polluted environment. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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2.8 Scientists investigated the resistance of mosquitos to DDT.
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The following steps were followed:
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• They captured a sample of mosquitos from the
environment. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
• The mosquitos were then exposed to a standard
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dose of DDT (4% DDT for 1 hour) in the laboratory.
• The number of mosquitos that died was counted. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
• Those that survived were left to reproduce.
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• A sample was taken from this population every two
months and the same procedure was followed for a ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
period of 16 months. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
The results are shown in the table below
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2.8.1 Identify the:


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(a) Independent variable ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
(b) Dependent variable …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.8.2 Formulate a hypothesis for this investigation. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
2.8.3 Draw a line graph to show how the mortality of mosquitoes changed
over the period of the investigation due to the application of DDT. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.8.4 State TWO factors, other than those mentioned, that should be ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
controlled in this investigation.
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2.8.5 State TWO ways in which the scientists could improve the reliability of
their results. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
2.8.6 Explain, in terms of natural selection, how mosquitoes may develop …………………………………………………………………………………………………
resistance to DDT.
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2.9 Study the diagrams below showing structures of different
organisms. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.9.1 Which diagram represents a structure that is analogous to
the structure in Diagram 4? …………………………………………………………………………………………………

2.9.2 Write down the numbers of any TWO diagrams that


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represent homologous structures. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.9.3 What information do analogous and homologous structures ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
provide about evolution? …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.10 Compare Darwin’s ideas to the ideas of Punctuated ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
Equilibrium (also mention evidence proposed for both ideas). …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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RECOMMENDED PRINT SIZE FOR THIS PAGE – A3
3.1
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3.1.2
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3.1.3
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3.1.4
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3.1.5 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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3.2 The diagrams below show the heads of four of the many …………………………………………………………………………………………………
species of finches inhabiting different islands in the
Galapagos group, some 1 000 km from South America. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
The number of species of finches on the South American
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mainland is fewer than that found on the islands.
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3.2.1 Explain ONE possible reason for the differences in the
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shape of the beaks.
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3.2.2 According to Darwin, these finches probably descended
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from a common ancestral finch species. Give a
geological explanation of how this ancestor probably …………………………………………………………………………………………………
came to be on these islands. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
3.2.3 Describe how new finch species were formed on the …………………………………………………………………………………………………
different islands ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
3.2.4 Explain why there is a lower species diversity of finches …………………………………………………………………………………………………
on the South American mainland than on the islands.
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3.3 Panama is a narrow strip of land that joins North and
South America. This narrow strip of land formed
………………………………………………………………………………………………...
approximately 3 million years ago. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
Shrimps (sea organisms), genus Alpheus, can be found ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
on either side of Panama. The two groups are
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phenotypically similar. However, when the males and
females from either side of the narrow strip were brought ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
together, they were not able to mate. They are now
considered to be two different species. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Describe how this kind of speciation could have taken ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
place to form two different species. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
3.4 The diagrams below show the change in fish species in ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
a lake from 250 million years ago to 100 million years
ago. The water level in the lake had dropped and formed
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three smaller lakes during this period ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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3.4.1 Which evolutionary process is illustrated in the
diagrams above? …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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3.4.2 Describe the process named in QUESTION 2.1.1 as it
occurred in the lake shown above. …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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PART 2
RECOMMENDED PRINT SIZE FOR THIS PAGE –
A3
BIOLOGICAL TERMS:
EXPLANATION TERM
An explanation for something that has been observed in nature
and which can be supported by facts, laws and tested
hypotheses.
A tentative explanation of a phenomenon that can be tested.

A diagrammatic representation showing possible evolutionary


relationships among different species.
The type of vision shared by apes and humans that allows for
depth perception.
A group of organisms of the same species in a specific habitat.

The family to which humans belong.

The opening in the skull through which the spinal cord enters.

A testable statement that can be rejected or accepted.

Total disappearance of a species from Earth.

The ability to walk on two limbs.

The hypothesis which supports migration of human ancestors


from the point of origin.
The mineralised remains of organisms that have lived in the
past.
The genus of the fossil “Little Foot”

The first Homo species to use tools

An upright posture and walking only on two legs.

Study of fossils.

Family to which humans belong.


4.1
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4.1.1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.1.2 4.1.1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

4.1.3
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4.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.2.1
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4.2.2
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4.2.3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.2.4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.2.5 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.3.1
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4.3.2
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4.3.3
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4.4
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4.4.1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.4.3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.4.4
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4.4.5
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4.5 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.5.2
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4.5.3
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4.5.4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.5.5
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4.5.6 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.6
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4.6.1
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4.6.2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.6.3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
4.6.4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.6.5
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4.7 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.7.1
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4.7.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.7.3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.7.4
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4.8
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4.8.1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.8.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

4.8.3 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
4.8.4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.9 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.9.1 ………………………………………………………………………………………………...
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4.9.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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4.9.3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………
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LONG QUESTIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

5.1
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5.2
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5.3
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The formation of a land bridge such as the Isthmus of Panama can cause geographic isolation of marine organisms. Over time, isolated populations diverge genetically due to lack of gene flow, environmental differences, and natural selection, leading to the formation of new species - an example of allopatric speciation .

Lamarck proposed that organisms evolve through the use and disuse of features, which become more or less pronounced, and these changes are inherited by offspring. Darwin's theory of natural selection, however, posits that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing these traits to the next generation. Lamarck's theory lacks the genetic mechanism that supports Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection .

The distribution of species, known as biogeography, supports the theory of evolution by showing that species evolve in response to geographic isolation and local environmental conditions. This distribution provides evidence for common ancestry and adaptation to diverse environments, reflecting evolutionary processes .

Analogous structures arise from convergent evolution and serve similar functions in unrelated species, indicating adaptation to similar environmental pressures rather than common ancestry. Homologous structures indicate divergent evolution from a common ancestor, despite different functions in current forms, reflecting the evolutionary pathways of different species .

In polluted environments, predominantly dark moths are favored because they blend in with the soot-darkened trees, reducing predation. In unpolluted environments, pale moths are less visible on lichen-covered trees, also reducing predation. This differential survival leads to an increase in the frequency of the favorable trait in each environment, illustrating natural selection .

Factors affecting the validity could include sample size, environmental consistency, the accuracy of moth color tracking, control measures for variables such as predator availability, and randomness in moth distribution. These factors could introduce bias or error into the data collected .

Mosquitoes exposed to DDT, which is lethal, will mostly die, but a few may survive due to genetic variations conferring resistance. These survivors reproduce, passing on the resistant genes. Over generations, the mosquito population will have an increased frequency of the resistant trait due to differential survival and reproduction, illustrating natural selection .

The concept illustrated is 'Punctuated Equilibrium,' which describes evolutionary changes that occur in relatively short periods of rapid change in species punctuated by long periods of stability or equilibrium where species remain unchanged .

Homologous structures in different organisms suggest that these organisms share a common ancestor. These structures, despite potential differences in function, have similar underlying anatomy, indicating divergent evolution from a common lineage .

'Descent with modification' suggests that species change over time and give rise to new species, sharing a common ancestry. Evidence supporting this includes the fossil record, which shows a gradual change in organisms over time, and comparative anatomy, which reveals similarities in body structures among different species, implying common descent .

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