All flashcards
Flashcard 1: What is the definition of gene pool?
Answer: All alleles present in a population. Contains all genetic variation available for selection.
Flashcard 2: What is phenotypic variation?
Answer: Differences in observable traits among individuals in a population. Raw material for natural selection to act upon.
Flashcard 3: What is the phenotype?
Answer: Observable characteristics produced by genes and environment. Result of genotype interacting with environment.
Flashcard 4: What is the genotype?
Answer: An organism’s genetic makeup; the alleles it carries. Determines which traits can be expressed.
Flashcard 5: What is an allele?
Answer: An alternative version of a gene at a specific locus. Different versions create variation within populations.
Flashcard 6: What is a selective pressure?
Answer: An environmental factor that affects survival or reproduction. Creates the selection that drives evolutionary change.
Flashcard 7: What is differential reproductive success?
Answer: Individuals with certain traits leave more viable offspring than others. Drives evolution by favoring beneficial traits.
Flashcard 8: What is camouflage as an adaptation?
Answer: A trait that reduces detection by predators or prey. Reduces predation risk by blending with surroundings.
Flashcard 9: What is mimicry as an adaptation?
Answer: Resembling another organism or object to gain a survival advantage. Deception strategy that confuses predators or prey.
Flashcard 10: What is aposematic coloration?
Answer: Warning coloration that signals toxicity or danger to predators. Honest signal that deters predators from attacking.
Flashcard 11: What is a trade-off in evolution?
Answer: A trait improves one aspect of fitness but reduces another. Evolution involves compromises between competing demands.
Flashcard 12: What is a structural (morphological) adaptation?
Answer: A physical body feature that increases fitness. Body form or anatomy that enhances fitness.
Flashcard 13: What is a physiological adaptation?
Answer: An internal functional trait (biochemical/process) that increases fitness. Internal processes that improve survival or reproduction.
Flashcard 14: Which term describes a trait that evolved because it increased survival to reproduction age?
Answer: Adaptation. Trait evolved specifically to enhance survival to maturity.
Flashcard 15: Which term describes the ability to produce offspring that can also reproduce?
Answer: Reproductive success. Ultimate measure of evolutionary fitness.
Flashcard 16: What is an environmental change that can shift which traits are favored called?
Answer: A change in selective pressures. Alters which traits provide survival or reproductive advantage.
Flashcard 17: Which option best defines survival of the fittest in biology?
Answer: Those with higher fitness leave more offspring, not necessarily the strongest. Fitness is about reproduction, not physical dominance.
Flashcard 18: Identify the correct link: How does a beneficial trait affect allele frequency over generations?
Answer: It tends to increase the allele’s frequency in the population. Selection increases frequency of advantageous alleles over time.
Flashcard 19: What is the key difference between survival and fitness?
Answer: Fitness measures reproduction; survival alone does not guarantee gene transfer. Reproduction is essential for passing genes forward.
Flashcard 20: What is the definition of a population in evolution?
Answer: A group of the same species living and interbreeding in one area. Basic unit where evolution occurs through mating.
Flashcard 21: What is adaptive value?
Answer: The extent to which a trait increases fitness in a given environment. Measures how much a trait improves fitness.
Flashcard 22: Which option is the best evidence that a trait is adaptive?
Answer: Individuals with the trait leave more viable offspring in that environment. Reproductive advantage demonstrates adaptive value.
Flashcard 23: Identify the correct statement: Does natural selection act on individuals or populations?
Answer: It acts on individuals, but populations evolve (allele frequencies change). Selection targets individuals but changes population genetics.
Flashcard 24: What is the relationship between variation and natural selection?
Answer: Selection requires variation; without variation, no trait is favored. Variation provides raw material for selection to work on.
Flashcard 25: What is the relationship between heritability and natural selection?
Answer: Traits must be heritable for selection to change allele frequencies. Only heritable traits can evolve through natural selection.
Flashcard 26: Which option best describes why antibiotic resistance can spread quickly in bacteria?
Answer: Resistant bacteria survive treatment and reproduce, increasing resistance alleles. Antibiotics create strong selection pressure favoring resistance.
Flashcard 27: Which option best describes why pesticide resistance evolves in insect populations?
Answer: Resistant individuals survive spraying and leave more offspring. Pesticides act as selection pressure favoring resistance genes.
Flashcard 28: Identify the correct cause of variation that selection can act on in a population.
Answer: Mutations and genetic recombination. Creates new alleles and gene combinations for selection.
Flashcard 29: What is a mutation in the context of evolution and traits?
Answer: A change in DNA that can create new alleles. Source of new genetic variants in populations.
Flashcard 30: What is an adaptation?
Answer: A heritable trait that increases fitness in a specific environment. Must improve survival or reproduction in that environment.