Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2) (3 pts) One of the volcanic islands Darwin visited had sea shell fossils in a layer of rock that was
5000 feet above sea level. Why was this important to Darwin and the development of his theory?
Because he could see that a volcanic island forms VERY slowly (let alone a 5000
foot high mountain), it helped Darwin appreciate that the earth was FAR older than
most people at the time thought. AND, Natural Selection takes a long time to
generate new species.
3) (3 pts) What was it about An Essay on the Principle of Population by Malthus that helped
Darwin and Wallace formulate the theory of Natural Selection?
5) (2 pts) Describe what is meant by the term Punctuated Equilibrium. How does this differ from
Darwins concept of gradualism?
6) (5 pts) LIST and GIVE AN EXAMPLE for the FIVE types of evidence people use to support the
Principle of Evolution.
Biogeography - Marsupials are found in Australia and South America, but not in
Europe.
Fossil Record - fossils of horses compared to humans
Comparative Anatomy - the similar bone structures in forelimbs of cats, whales,
bats, and humans.
Molecular Biology -it is clear that the evolution of new functions for proteins
commonly occurs after gene duplication events that allow the free modification of
one copy by mutation, selection, or drift, while the second copy continues to
produce a functional protein.
Comparative Embryology - fish, bird, rabbit, and human embryos are similar in
appearance in the early stages.
7) (3 pts) How do biologist define a SPECIES? Describe an example were two individuals ARE the
same species AND an example where two individuals ARE NOT the same species.
Species is a group of individual organism that interbreed and produce fertile, viable
offspring. According to this definition, one species is distinguished from another
when, in nature, it is not possible for matings between individuals from each species
to produce fertile offspring.
The poodle and the cocker spaniel can reproduce to produce a breed known as
cockapoo.
The African fish eagle is similar in appearance to the bald eagle, but the two birds are
members of different species.