EVOLUTION UNIT : This unit is subdivided into 3 categories; microevolution (Mechanisms of Evolution, chapter 22)
macroevolution (Species Formation, chapter 23) and supporting evidence. (History of Life, chapter 21, Reconstructing
Phylogeny, chapter 25)
1. Who is the “father of evolution”? What was his “big idea”? Why do we say that organisms change or mutate, but
populations evolve?
2. Why was it critical that Darwin did his initial observation on tropical islands?
(List Darwin’s conclusions that have become the tenants of evolution)
3. What are physical versus behavioral adaptations? Are both components of the genes? What are the 2 domains where
evolution can act on an organism?
4. Why is natural selection said to be the “chooser”?
5. What does “frequency” of an allele mean? How does allele frequency calculations show or provide evidence of
evolution?
6. Define polymorphism and give an example.
7. What does genetic variation have to do with survival?
8. List and describe the mechanisms that allow for genetic changes to occur in a population.
9. How is gene flow both adventitious and deleterious to any given population?
10. What is Bottleneck Effect? What is Founder Effect? Polymorphism? Are they always good things? Bad things?
11. How do we define species?
12. Draw and describe the outcomes of selection.
13. Give several benefits and costs of sexual reproduction.
14. Draw a diagram to illustrate the domains of evolution, explain your diagram.
15. Read the “Snake eats poisonous…” story on page 486 and explain what is meant by “evolutionary constraints”. Use
this same example to explain what is meant by “trade-offs constrain evolution”
16. For application practice answer questions 3, 4 and 5 in the “for discussion” section.
17. Make a linear illustration (including processes) to show the evolution of the most desirable form of reproduction. (In
terms of evolution)
18. Nature has been described as showing “an evolutionary arms race” between predators and prey. Explain this and
provide an example.
19. What allows there to be a continued race? Won’t someone just win and someone just lose?
20. What does “micro-evolution” deal with?
21. What level and type of mutation and in what types of cells will evolution be occurring?
22. What characteristic of DNA allows evolution to occur?
23. What do hox genes have to do with evolution? They are big scale control genes!
24. What is artificial selection? Give examples. How does domestication alter evolutionary outcomes? Give examples.
24. What are physical versus behavioral adaptations? Are both components of the genes?
25. What does “frequency” of an allele mean? How does allele frequency calculations show or provide evidence of
evolution?
26. Give an example of polymorphic traits in human beings.
27. What does genetic variation have to do with survival?
28. Why doesn’t evolution “fix” problems like bad backs, heart disease, etc?
29. How would you define evolution?
30. Are humans currently evolving?