Evolutionary Selection Mechanisms Quiz

Charles Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection, which explains how species evolve over time through the differential survival and reproduction of organisms with advantageous traits.

Evolutionary selection is primarily driven by the principle of 'survival of the fittest,' where organisms with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Directional selection favors extreme phenotypes over intermediate ones, causing a shift in the average characteristics of a population.

Sexual selection is primarily driven by mate choice, where certain traits are favored because they enhance an individual's chances of mating and reproducing.

The founder effect in population genetics refers to the change in allele frequency caused by the establishment of a small, isolated founding population.

Coevolution is exemplified by predator-prey interactions, where evolutionary changes in one species drive reciprocal adaptations in another.

The fossil record is significant in studying evolution as it provides evidence of past life forms, revealing the history of life on Earth and the evolution of species.

Homologous structures share a common evolutionary origin and have similar functions, while analogous structures have different evolutionary origins but similar functions.

In evolution, 'fitness' refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, contributing to the transmission of its genes to the next generation.

Genetic drift in evolution leads to a decrease in genetic diversity within a population due to random changes in allele frequencies.

Convergent evolution involves the independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages, often in response to similar environmental challenges.

The Red Queen hypothesis proposes that species must continually evolve to keep pace with a changing environment, much like characters in 'Alice in Wonderland' must run to stay in the same place.

Allopatric speciation involves the formation of new species due to geographic isolation, while sympatric speciation occurs without geographic separation.

Stephen Jay Gould proposed the concept of punctuated equilibrium, suggesting that evolution occurs in short bursts of rapid change interspersed with longer periods of stability.