AP Biology Flashcards: Evidence Of Evolution

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Evidence Of Evolution, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is the primary source of genetic variation in populations?

Answer: Mutations. Creates new alleles that natural selection can act upon.

Flashcard 2: Which term describes a rapid burst of evolutionary change?

Answer: Punctuated equilibrium. Contrasts with gradual evolutionary change over time.

Flashcard 3: What is the significance of embryological similarities?

Answer: Common ancestry. Similar embryonic development patterns indicate shared ancestry.

Flashcard 4: Which term describes the independent evolution of similar traits?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Different species develop similar solutions to environmental challenges.

Flashcard 5: Which molecule is commonly used to study molecular homology?

Answer: DNA. DNA sequences reveal evolutionary relationships between species.

Flashcard 6: Which process can lead to genetic divergence in isolated populations?

Answer: Allopatric speciation. Geographic separation reduces gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 7: Which type of selection favors intermediate phenotypes?

Answer: Stabilizing selection. Reduces variation by selecting against extreme phenotypes.

Flashcard 8: What is genetic drift?

Answer: Random changes in allele frequencies in a population. More pronounced in smaller populations due to sampling error.

Flashcard 9: Which evolutionary mechanism involves random changes in allele frequencies?

Answer: Genetic drift. Operates independently of natural selection pressures.

Flashcard 10: How does biogeography provide evidence for evolution?

Answer: Species distribution correlates with geographical features and history. Isolation leads to unique species on islands and continents.

Flashcard 11: Identify a type of evidence for evolution from paleontology.

Answer: Fossil records showing transitional forms. Fossils provide direct historical evidence of evolutionary change.

Flashcard 12: What do analogous structures demonstrate?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar functions evolved independently in unrelated species.

Flashcard 13: What is allopatric speciation?

Answer: Speciation due to geographic isolation. Physical barriers prevent gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 14: What does a phylogenetic tree represent?

Answer: Evolutionary relationships among species. Branch points show when lineages diverged from ancestors.

Flashcard 15: Which structures indicate divergent evolution?

Answer: Homologous structures. Same structure modified for different functions over time.

Flashcard 16: What is allopatric speciation?

Answer: Speciation due to geographic isolation. Physical barriers prevent gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 17: Which type of evidence is provided by DNA sequencing?

Answer: Molecular homology. Compares genetic sequences to determine relationships.

Flashcard 18: What is the primary source of genetic variation in populations?

Answer: Mutations. Creates new alleles that natural selection can act upon.

Flashcard 19: What is the term for a trait that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction?

Answer: Adaptation. Increases fitness by improving survival or reproduction.

Flashcard 20: How does comparative anatomy support the theory of evolution?

Answer: By showing homologous structures indicating common ancestry. Structural similarities reveal common evolutionary origins.

Flashcard 21: What is coevolution?

Answer: Reciprocal evolutionary change between interacting species. Examples include flowering plants and their pollinators.

Flashcard 22: What is a clade?

Answer: A group of species that includes an ancestral species and its descendants. Represents a complete evolutionary branch on phylogenetic trees.

Flashcard 23: What is gene flow?

Answer: Exchange of genes between populations. Migration introduces new alleles to populations.

Flashcard 24: Which formula represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Answer: $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$. Where $p$ and $q$ represent allele frequencies in population.

Flashcard 25: What is the significance of embryological similarities?

Answer: Common ancestry. Similar embryonic development patterns indicate shared ancestry.

Flashcard 26: What is the bottleneck effect?

Answer: A sharp reduction in population size and genetic diversity. Causes loss of genetic diversity in surviving population.

Flashcard 27: What is gene flow?

Answer: Exchange of genes between populations. Migration introduces new alleles to populations.

Flashcard 28: What is a clade?

Answer: A group of species that includes an ancestral species and its descendants. Represents a complete evolutionary branch on phylogenetic trees.

Flashcard 29: What type of evolution is illustrated by the similarity in wings of birds and insects?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar functions evolved independently in different lineages.

Flashcard 30: Which process can lead to genetic divergence in isolated populations?

Answer: Allopatric speciation. Geographic separation reduces gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 31: What is sympatric speciation?

Answer: Speciation without geographic isolation. Can occur through polyploidy or ecological specialization.

Flashcard 32: What term describes the formation of new species?

Answer: Speciation. Occurs when populations become reproductively isolated.

Flashcard 33: Which structures are examples of homologous structures?

Answer: Forelimbs of humans and wings of bats. Same bone structure, different functions show common ancestry.

Flashcard 34: Which molecule is commonly used to study molecular homology?

Answer: DNA. DNA sequences reveal evolutionary relationships between species.

Flashcard 35: What term describes the formation of new species?

Answer: Speciation. Occurs when populations become reproductively isolated.

Flashcard 36: Which structures are examples of homologous structures?

Answer: Forelimbs of humans and wings of bats. Same bone structure, different functions show common ancestry.

Flashcard 37: Which evolutionary mechanism involves random changes in allele frequencies?

Answer: Genetic drift. Operates independently of natural selection pressures.

Flashcard 38: Which scientist is known for the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Answer: Charles Darwin. Proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution.

Flashcard 39: What is the significance of transitional fossils?

Answer: They show intermediate forms between ancestral and derived species. Bridge gaps in evolutionary history between major groups.

Flashcard 40: What is a vestigial structure?

Answer: A structure with no current function, inherited from an ancestor. Examples include appendix in humans or hip bones in whales.

Flashcard 41: Which term describes a rapid burst of evolutionary change?

Answer: Punctuated equilibrium. Contrasts with gradual evolutionary change over time.

Flashcard 42: What type of evolution is illustrated by the similarity in wings of birds and insects?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar functions evolved independently in different lineages.

Flashcard 43: What is an evolutionary tree?

Answer: A diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species. Visual representation of phylogenetic relationships over time.

Flashcard 44: What is the role of mutations in evolution?

Answer: Source of genetic variation. Provides raw material for natural selection to act upon.

Flashcard 45: What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle describe?

Answer: A non-evolving population's allele frequencies. Serves as null hypothesis for detecting evolutionary change.

Flashcard 46: What is the significance of transitional fossils?

Answer: They show intermediate forms between ancestral and derived species. Bridge gaps in evolutionary history between major groups.

Flashcard 47: What is the term for a trait that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction?

Answer: Adaptation. Increases fitness by improving survival or reproduction.

Flashcard 48: Which term describes the independent evolution of similar traits?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Different species develop similar solutions to environmental challenges.

Flashcard 49: Identify the process by which populations become better suited to their environment.

Answer: Adaptation. Results from natural selection favoring beneficial traits.

Flashcard 50: What is a monophyletic group?

Answer: A group consisting of a single ancestral species and all its descendants. Includes all descendants with no missing branches.

Flashcard 51: What do analogous structures demonstrate?

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar functions evolved independently in unrelated species.

Flashcard 52: Which scientist is known for the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Answer: Charles Darwin. Proposed natural selection as the mechanism of evolution.

Flashcard 53: What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle describe?

Answer: A non-evolving population's allele frequencies. Serves as null hypothesis for detecting evolutionary change.

Flashcard 54: How does biogeography provide evidence for evolution?

Answer: Species distribution correlates with geographical features and history. Isolation leads to unique species on islands and continents.

Flashcard 55: What is the role of mutations in evolution?

Answer: Source of genetic variation. Provides raw material for natural selection to act upon.

Flashcard 56: What is the founder effect?

Answer: Genetic differences in a population founded by a small number of individuals. Small founding population lacks full genetic diversity.

Flashcard 57: Which formula represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Answer: $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$. Where $p$ and $q$ represent allele frequencies in population.

Flashcard 58: What is a monophyletic group?

Answer: A group consisting of a single ancestral species and all its descendants. Includes all descendants with no missing branches.

Flashcard 59: What is coevolution?

Answer: Reciprocal evolutionary change between interacting species. Examples include flowering plants and their pollinators.

Flashcard 60: Identify the process by which populations become better suited to their environment.

Answer: Adaptation. Results from natural selection favoring beneficial traits.

Flashcard 61: How does comparative anatomy support the theory of evolution?

Answer: By showing homologous structures indicating common ancestry. Structural similarities reveal common evolutionary origins.

Flashcard 62: What is the principle of natural selection?

Answer: Survival and reproduction of organisms best suited to the environment. This describes the mechanism driving evolutionary change.

Flashcard 63: What is an example of adaptive radiation?

Answer: Darwin's finches diversifying into different niches. One ancestral species rapidly diversifies into multiple species.

Flashcard 64: Identify a type of evidence for evolution from paleontology.

Answer: Fossil records showing transitional forms. Fossils provide direct historical evidence of evolutionary change.

Flashcard 65: Which type of selection favors extreme phenotypes?

Answer: Disruptive selection. Selects against intermediate phenotypes, increases variation.

Flashcard 66: Which type of selection results in a shift toward one extreme phenotype?

Answer: Directional selection. Favors one end of the phenotypic range over the other.

Flashcard 67: What is a vestigial structure?

Answer: A structure with no current function, inherited from an ancestor. Examples include appendix in humans or hip bones in whales.

Flashcard 68: What is the principle of natural selection?

Answer: Survival and reproduction of organisms best suited to the environment. This describes the mechanism driving evolutionary change.

Flashcard 69: Which structures indicate divergent evolution?

Answer: Homologous structures. Same structure modified for different functions over time.

Flashcard 70: Which type of evidence is provided by DNA sequencing?

Answer: Molecular homology. Compares genetic sequences to determine relationships.

Flashcard 71: Which type of selection results in a shift toward one extreme phenotype?

Answer: Directional selection. Favors one end of the phenotypic range over the other.

Flashcard 72: What is sympatric speciation?

Answer: Speciation without geographic isolation. Can occur through polyploidy or ecological specialization.

Flashcard 73: What is an example of adaptive radiation?

Answer: Darwin's finches diversifying into different niches. One ancestral species rapidly diversifies into multiple species.

Flashcard 74: What is genetic drift?

Answer: Random changes in allele frequencies in a population. More pronounced in smaller populations due to sampling error.