How Do We Distinguish A Scientific Hypothesis From A Non-Scientific One?
EVOLUTION QUESTIONS
1) How do we distinguish a scientific hypothesis from a non-scientific one?
• A scientific hypothesis is one that can be proven or disproven through tests and experiments.
2) What are the main ways in which Darwin’s theory differs from Lamarck’s?
• Darwin’s theory supports the idea that a species can evolve by passing on the best traits of the fittest individuals to the next generations. Lamarck’s theory suggests that each individual within a species has a tendency to make efforts to become better by acquiring particular characteristics and eventually passes them on to its offspring. Darwin’s theory states that if one individual has a useful trait they will be able to pass it on, thereby changing the species, whereas, Lamarck’s …show more content…
If so, how?
• A common way of creating new species is to impel polyploidy in plants. A different approach could be to take a large group of individuals from a species and place them in a foreign environment. Those of them that survive could potentially reproduce in said environment while continuously adapting to it and eventually become a species of their own.
4) Read the attached New Scientist article ‘In the blink of an eye’. It discusses cases of rapid evolution. Briefly describe how some populations of elephants and cod are showing evolutionary responses to intense hunting pressure.
• In several parts of Africa it is more advantageous for elephants to be tuskless since those who have tusks are considered desirable for ivory hunting and are therefore more likely to be killed.
• Populations of cod near Newfoundland, Canada, have started to reach maturity at a smaller size due to the fact that fishermen capture only the largest fish.
5) Give one example of a homologous structure and one of an analogous structure.
• An example of a homologous structure is that all land mammals have four limbs. This indicates that we all have shared …show more content…
• In the case of disruptive selection the extremes are the advantageous traits. The average individual has less fitness. Disruptive selection can result in outbreeding depression.
8) How are a large number of genes for sickle cell anaemia maintained in some human populations? What is this an example of?
• In populations where malaria is prevalent people who carry a single allele for sickle cell anaemia (Hbs) are resistant to malaria since their erythrocytes are unable to sustain the parasite. This is an example of heterozygous advantage.
9) Does genetic drift increase or decrease heterozygosity in a population? Why?
• It decreases heterozygosity because in the cases of genetic drift there is a limited gene pool which leads to inbreeding.
10) Give one example of the founder effect, and explain why it is called that.
• The Amish are a great example of the founder effect. It’s called that because it describes a small group of individuals from a species ‘founding’ a new population.
BIOMES QUESTIONS
1) If you worked at NASA and wanted to examine an alien planet for signs of life, what gases might you look for in the atmosphere of the planet, and
1) How do we distinguish a scientific hypothesis from a non-scientific one?
• A scientific hypothesis is one that can be proven or disproven through tests and experiments.
2) What are the main ways in which Darwin’s theory differs from Lamarck’s?
• Darwin’s theory supports the idea that a species can evolve by passing on the best traits of the fittest individuals to the next generations. Lamarck’s theory suggests that each individual within a species has a tendency to make efforts to become better by acquiring particular characteristics and eventually passes them on to its offspring. Darwin’s theory states that if one individual has a useful trait they will be able to pass it on, thereby changing the species, whereas, Lamarck’s …show more content…
If so, how?
• A common way of creating new species is to impel polyploidy in plants. A different approach could be to take a large group of individuals from a species and place them in a foreign environment. Those of them that survive could potentially reproduce in said environment while continuously adapting to it and eventually become a species of their own.
4) Read the attached New Scientist article ‘In the blink of an eye’. It discusses cases of rapid evolution. Briefly describe how some populations of elephants and cod are showing evolutionary responses to intense hunting pressure.
• In several parts of Africa it is more advantageous for elephants to be tuskless since those who have tusks are considered desirable for ivory hunting and are therefore more likely to be killed.
• Populations of cod near Newfoundland, Canada, have started to reach maturity at a smaller size due to the fact that fishermen capture only the largest fish.
5) Give one example of a homologous structure and one of an analogous structure.
• An example of a homologous structure is that all land mammals have four limbs. This indicates that we all have shared …show more content…
• In the case of disruptive selection the extremes are the advantageous traits. The average individual has less fitness. Disruptive selection can result in outbreeding depression.
8) How are a large number of genes for sickle cell anaemia maintained in some human populations? What is this an example of?
• In populations where malaria is prevalent people who carry a single allele for sickle cell anaemia (Hbs) are resistant to malaria since their erythrocytes are unable to sustain the parasite. This is an example of heterozygous advantage.
9) Does genetic drift increase or decrease heterozygosity in a population? Why?
• It decreases heterozygosity because in the cases of genetic drift there is a limited gene pool which leads to inbreeding.
10) Give one example of the founder effect, and explain why it is called that.
• The Amish are a great example of the founder effect. It’s called that because it describes a small group of individuals from a species ‘founding’ a new population.
BIOMES QUESTIONS
1) If you worked at NASA and wanted to examine an alien planet for signs of life, what gases might you look for in the atmosphere of the planet, and