Exam 1 – Study Questions from Notes

1. Is evolution just a hypothesis?

Within the scientific community, there is absolutely no controversy over evolutionary
change in organisms.
2. What can cause the gene pool of a population to change?
Evolutionary forces like natural selection, chance events (genetic drift), mutations, and gene
flow (immigration of species).
3. Is evolution goal-oriented? (a ‘perfect’ product of evolution)
No, natural selection helps animals adapt to their environments. There is no perfect species
because the environment can change.
4. Chi-square test with the blue-footed-boobies:
Χ 2crit =5.99
Was (and will be) given.
Χ 2crit > Χ 2calc
Must remember!!! If this is true, then you can not reject the null hypothesis (which is that
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium applies, and that evolution is NOT happening).
( observed−expected)2
Χ 2calc=∑
expected
Observed was given, f(WW) = 250, f(Ww) = 200, f(ww) = 50.
Expected is the p and q frequencies times the total:
p = 0.7, p2=0.49, f(WW) = 0.49.
q = 0.3, q2=0.09, f(ww) = 0.09
pq = 0.42, f(Ww) = 0.42
Expected (out of the total of 500):
f(WW)=0.49*(500) = 245
f(Ww)=0.42*(500) = 210
f(ww)=0.09*(500) = 45
( 250−245 )2 ( 200−210 )2 ( 50−45 )2
Χ 2calc= + +
245 210 45
Χ calc=0.10+ 0.40+0.56=1.14<5.99( Χ 2crit )
2

Therefore, we must accept the null hypothesis, that evolution is not acting.

5. How can new species arise without geographic isolation?

Sympatric (same home land) isolation. Polyploidy – individuals with more than 2 sets of
chromosomes. Very large mutation affecting chromosome number, most common in plants.
(Not part of the question, but probably on the test)
 Autopolyploidy (same) – individual with more than two sets of chromosomes from the same
species.
Allopolyploidy (different) – individual with more than two sets of chromosomes from
different species.
6. Explain why a diploid individual cannot reproduce successfully with a tetraploid
individual.
See figure 26.8 – the gametes end up having uneven chromosome numbers.
7. What can happen when isolated populations come into contact?
Table 26.4
Fusion of populations – two populations freely interbreed
Reinforcement of divergence – the hybrid offspring have low fitness, so natural selection
kills them off
Hybrid zone formation – well-defined area where hybridization occurs, can move or stay the
same
Extinction of one population – if one of the populations are a higher competitor for
resources, then the poorer competitor will be drive to extinction
Creation of new species – if the hybrid can occupy distinct habitats or use novel resources,
then a new species forms.
8. How have humans changed the evolution of organisms?
??? Pollution? Moving species around for fun?
9. How does genetic variation arise in the first place?
Natural selection – certain alleles are favored.
Genetic drift – random changes in allele frequencies, such as in small populations (random
chance events).
Gene flow – movement of species (therefore, alleles) between populations.
Mutation – production of new alleles.
10. If an organism needs a new trait to survive in a changing environment, can natural
selection create this new trait?
No! Natural selection can only “choose” from what is already there!
11. In science, what do we mean by a theory?
The closest you can get in science to being a fact. Since science can’t actually determine
something as a fact, ever, since we are never fully sure of anything, a theory is the
CLOSEST you can get to fact. Backed by large, mass amounts of evidence and experiments.
12. Is evolution just a hypothesis?
No!!! Evolution is a theory that is backed by (like I said) mass amounts of evidence. Pretty
much a fact, it’s just that science will never allow you to truly call something a fact
13. What are some of the disadvantages of the biological species concept?
First, the biological species concept says that what determines if a species is a species is if
the species is reproductively isolated (aka can’t reproduce with anybody else). But the
 disadvantages is that it cannot be evaluated in fossils or species that reproduce asexually.
It’s also difficult when closely related populations do not live in the same area.
14. What is directional selection? Give an example.
The average genotype of a population changes in one direction. The book has an example of
the cliff swallows. One year, it got really cold. All of the small birds died, and the bigger
ones lived because they had more fat stored to keep them warm. Therefore, most of the
birds ended up being bigger because now the only genotype left is large birds. So now the
average is slightly to the river on the bell-shaped diagram. Eventually the favored allele will
approach a frequency of 1.0, and the disadvantageous allele would reach 0.
15. If the observed frequency of the recessive allele is 0.8, what is the frequency of the
dominant allele?
q = 0.8
p = 0.2
f(WW) = p2 = (0.2)2 = 0.04 = 4%
16. If the observed frequency of the dominant allele is 0.7, what would be the expected
genotype frequency of homozygous recessives if there was no evolution acting?
Evolution isn’t acting – so Hardy-Weinberg applies.
p = 0.7
q = 0.3
f(ww) = q2 = (0.3)2 = 0.09 = 9%
17. List mechanisms that keep biological species separate.
Table 26.1
Prezygotic
Temporal – species breed at different times
Habitat – species breed in different habitats
Behavioral – certain behaviours say (like some fireflies give out different light
sequences for their particular species)
Gametic barrier – the egg and sperm are incompatible
Mechanical – the structures are incompatible
Postzygotic
Hybrid viability – offspring die
Hybrid sterility – offspring are sterile
18. If p + q = 1.0 or p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1.0, is this evidence for evolution or not?
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is true when evolution is NOT acting. When these equations
are right, then evolution is not occurring. Chi-square tests can be used to determine
differences between observed and expected. (See above.)

19. Why is the fossil record incomplete?

No fossil remains.
Destruction of fossils.
 Undiscovered fossils.
20. What are some of the problems with the principle of parsimony?
Parsimony says that the simplest phylogentic tree is the most correct. But some species
have evolved into two separate groups, but end up looking the same. Like dolphins and those
creepy ichthyosaurs which were reptiles and existed back when the dinosaurs existed (but
they weren’t dinosaurs, just reptiles). They look the same. But they evolved their features
independently.
21. What is meant by a sister group?
The closest related species.
22. On any phylogenetic tree, circle a monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic group.
Mono – ancestor and all its descendants.
Para – ancestor and some of its descendants.
Poly – multiple ancestors and all of their descendants
23. What is the difference between a homologous character and a analogous character?
Homologous – when related species have somewhat matching bone structure or some
characteristic.
Analogous (convergent evolution)– like the flying squirrel and the sugar glider, not related,
but look the same.
24. Give some examples of synapomorphies from any taxa.
Ankle bones in mammals. Synapomorphies – homologous traits.