Flashcards Ch 22 Notes Part I Introduction to Evolution

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Our planet is home to a huge variety of organisms.

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Scientists estimate 5-20 million species of organisms are alive today.

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Species have disappeared (gone extinct) due to various factors.

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These factors include environmental changes and human impact.

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EVOLUTION

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The process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms. "Change over time."

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FITNESS

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Refers to traits and behaviors of organisms that enable them to survive and reproduce.

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Common Descent

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Species share a common ancestor.

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ADAPTATION

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Adaptations are based on variations that were randomly inherited. Mutations are the source of all variation, and adaptations increase an organism's fitness.

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Examples of adaptations in different organisms

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Examples of adaptations include camouflage in insects, thick fur in polar bears, and streamlined bodies in sharks.

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Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck's contribution to evolutionary theory.

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He was the first to propose a mechanism for how life evolves, although his paradigm was incorrect.

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Definition of "paradigm" in science.

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A framework used to interpret information in science.

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Evolution: Darwin vs. Lamarck

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This flashcard compares the evolutionary theories of Charles Darwin and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Darwin is known for the theory of natural selection, while Lamarck proposed the idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics.