AP Biology natural selection evidence flashcards

What is natural selection?

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Example of natural selection?

The peppered moth's color change during the Industrial Revolution showcases natural selection in action.

True or false: Natural selection creates new traits.

False, because natural selection only acts on existing traits, favoring those beneficial for survival.

Fill in the blank: Fitness is a measure of an organism's ___ to reproduce.

ability

Difference between stabilizing and directional selection?

Stabilizing selection favors average traits, while directional selection favors one extreme trait.

What is genetic drift?

A mechanism of evolution involving random changes in allele frequencies, especially in small populations.

What evidence supports natural selection?

Fossil records, homologous structures, and DNA comparisons support the theory of evolution.

True or false: All traits are adaptive.

False, because some traits may be neutral or even harmful in certain environments.

Example of reproductive isolation?

Two species of frogs that mate at different times of the year, preventing interbreeding.

Question: What is a homologous structure?

An anatomical feature that is similar in different species due to common ancestry.

Fill in the blank: The process of speciation often begins with ___ isolation.

geographic

True or false: Natural selection can lead to evolution.

True, because it drives changes in allele frequencies over time.

What is an example of artificial selection?

Dog breeding, where specific traits are selected to enhance desired characteristics.

Difference between natural selection and artificial selection?

Natural selection occurs without human intervention, while artificial selection is human-directed.

Fill in the blank: A trait that improves an organism's chance of survival is known as a ___ trait.

adaptive

What is the significance of the Galápagos Islands?

They provided unique examples of adaptive radiation, leading to diverse species from common ancestors.

Question: What is convergent evolution?

When unrelated species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures.

True or false: Natural selection is a random process.

False, because natural selection is based on differential survival and reproduction.

What does the acronym 'Lamarckism' refer to?

An early theory suggesting that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime.

Fill in the blank: The Hardy-Weinberg principle describes a population that is ___ from evolutionary changes.

not evolving

What is adaptive radiation?

The rapid evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor.

True or false: All evolution results from natural selection.

False, because evolution can also occur due to genetic drift, mutation, and migration.

Fill in the blank: ___ structures are similar due to shared ancestry but serve different functions.

Homologous