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AP Biology Unit 6 Test

Terms in this set (29)

Cuvier used Catastrophism to attempt to explain the existence of what?
The fossil record
Why was Darwin and Wallace's theory of evolution by natural selection revolutionary?
Because it dismissed the idea that species are constant and emphasized the importance of variation and change in populations
What idea did Darwin learned from the writings of Thomas Malthus?
Populations tend to increase at a faster rate than their food supply normally allows
Given a population that contains genetic variation, What is the sequence of events could occur to influence natural selection?
1. A change occurs in the environment
2. Poorly adapted individuals have decreased survivorship.
3. well-adapted individuals leave more offspring than do poorly adapted individuals
4. Genetic frequencies within the population change
DDT was once considered to be a way to permanently get rid of pests. Instead, DDT is largely useless against pests. What could have prevented this from happening?
None of the insect pests would have genetic variations that resulted in DDT resistance so if none of the pests have resistance then they would all die
What role do humans play in artificial selection?
Humans pick which organisms reproduce in artificial selection.
What conditions are needed for evolution by natural selection to occur?
The population must vary in traits that are heritable and some heritable traits must increase reproductive success
What evidence supports that there is a common origin to all life on Earth?
All organisms use essentially the same genetic code
Members of two different species possess a similar-looking structure that they use in a similar way to perform the same function. How does this represent homology and not convergent evolution?
Genetic similarities! (not just structural similarities)
The two species share many proteins in common, the nucleotide sequences that code for these proteins are almost identical
What is a vestigial structure?
It is a structure that is no longer useful to the organism.
Exs: *human tail bone (we don't have a tail anyone)
*Crabs have a tiny tail that is tucked under and no longer used for swimming like other crustaceans (lobsters, shrimp, crayfish)
You are given a box of preserved grasshoppers of various species that are new to science and have not been described. You have to separate them into different species and there is no additional information as to where or when they were collected. What can you use to determine different species?
Morphological evidence
Rank the following from most general to most specific.
1.Gametic isolation
2.Reproductive isolating mechanism
3.Sperm-egg incompatibility in sea urchins
4.Prezygotic isolating mechanism
2, 4, 1, 3
In a hypothetical situation, a certain species of flea feeds only on antelopes. In the western US, antelopes and cattle often associate with one another in the same open rangeland. Some of these fleas develop a strong preference for cattle blood and mate only with other fleas that prefer cattle blood. The host mammal can be considered as the flea's habitat. If this persists, and new species evolve, this would be an example of.....
Sympatric speciation and habitat isolation
What is a hybrid zone?
An area where mating occurs between members of two closely related species, producing viable offspring.
A. For biologists studying a large flatworm in the lab, which Hardy-Weinberg condition is most difficult to meet?
B. For biologists studying a small fish population in the lab, the Hardy-Weinberg condition that is easiest to meet is....
A. No mutation
B. No gene flow
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