study guide

Questions

1. Create a monophyletic tree representing the relationship between ten hypothetical species (You can just call them species 1 – 10). Which two are the most closely related? Now, depict a paraphyletic and a polyphyletic grouping. What does the application of a molecular add to the information contained in a phylogenetic tree?
2. Identify the key characteristics shared by all living things on Earth that, in fact, define these things as ‘living’. Of all of life characteristics, which one characteristic is the reason for all other characteristics in your list.
3. Compare and contrast the phenetic and cladistics approach to constructing a phylogenetic tree. Relate these approaches to the concepts of anagenesis and cladogenesis.
4. Contrast, with examples, the concepts in evolution of homology and analogy. Of the two, which represents the phenomenon of evolutionary convergence?
5. What kinds of information is used in constructing a phylogenetic tree?
6. Define the following terms: Gene, locus, allele, dominance, recessiveness, incomplete dominance, heterozygote, homozygote, and chromosome.
7. Which scientists had the greatest influence on the work of Darwin and why? In other words, Darwin did not work in a vacuum. His thoughts were guided, in part, in what he read and with whom he spoke.
8. *What is a Mendelian ratio? How does the fact that it is a ratio support the notion of a particulate nature of heredity?
9. In a sentence or two each, provide a general description of each of the great assemblies of living organisms (e.g., plants, fungus. etc.)
10. Why is an understanding of meiosis as a form of cell division central to the general concept of evolution? Make the connection between the two processes of nature and include the relevant events in meiosis to support your answer.
11. Briefly describe the Cell Cycle (what happens when).
12. Mitosis is considered a form of cloning. Why?

Questions

1. *What factors must be true for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to hold? In other words, what are the basic assumptions of the concept? What does it mean in the big picture when one or more assumptions fail?
2. *Use a Punnett Square to determine if the following population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Make sure you complete all the necessary steps and show all of your work: ? EE EE EE Ee ee EE EE EE EE Ee Ee Ee EE EE EE Ee Ee Ee EE EE ee Ee EE Ee EE EE EE EE Ee EE Ee EE EE EE Ee Ee EE EE Ee EE EE EE EE EE EE EE Ee Ee EE EE
3. What is meant by epistasis? Formulate a relationship between epistasis and the phenomenon known as punctuated equilibrium.
4. List and describe those factors that prevent two new species from reunifying their gene pools.
5. What is meant by ‘gene flow’? Give examples. Relate the term to the concept of speciation.
6. Contrast stabilizing, directional, and disruptive selection. Of these, which most likely results in polymorphism?
7. What is meant by an adaptive radiation? What is the relationship between this process and mass/global extinction?
8. *What was the approach taken by Mendel in his experiments on patterns of genetic inheritance? (What was his approach?) (e.g., pure strain, hybrid crosses, etc.).
9. Compare the four models of speciation. Of these, which involves a mutation-related event?
10. What are the two alternative forms of reproduction are available to living things? What are the costs/benefits of each to the survival of species?
11. Was Darwin a gradualist? Contrast this form of evolution with punctuated equilibrium. What information supports this latter view? Which form is related to anagenesis?
12. Lamarck had his own view of evolution. How did they differ from that of Darwin? So, was Lamarck a kind of ‘chicken before the egg’ kind of guy?

30. What is Mendel’s two Laws of Genetics? Relate these laws to events during meiosis in which genetic recombination occurs. 31. What is genetic drift? How do these phenomena relate to evolutionary bottlenecks and founder effect? 32. Who developed the hierarchical system of nomenclature? Explain binomial nomenclature. 33. Define heterochrony with examples. Explain how neoteny and progenesis can lead to paedomorphosis. 34. Define the terms ‘microevolution’ and ‘macroevolution’. Of these, which involves shifting allele frequencies in a population’s gene pool? 35. Was Charles Darwin the first evolutionist? Provide examples as part of your answer. 36. In the past, the Earth was not so conducive to the evolution of life. Explain the conditions of early Earth from 4.6 billion years bp to 3.8 billion years bp. What does the term ‘abiogenesis; have to do with the latter date? 37. Come up with1 feature of human beings that would be considered a synapomorphy shared with chimpanzees. 38. What key steps are believed to be involved in the evolution of the first cell? How did the Miller-Urey experiments provide enlightenment in this question? What is the role of a ‘reducing atmosphere’? 39. Don’t forget, know the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. 40. Also, know that general organelles of a eukaryotic cell and their functions.