3-Evolution Guided Notes PDF

Preview

Summary

Dr. Sy guided notes...

Description

Guided Notes: Evolution and Behavior Learning Objectives

1

1. Be able to state the approximate age of our planet and our species. 2. Be able to distinguish between and define artificial and natural selection. 3. Understand how the examples of herbicides and antibiotics illustrate evolution on relatively small time scales. 4. Be able to distinguish between and define, phylogeny and ontogeny. You must also know the synonyms for these terms. 5. Be able to describe the significance of Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace to our discussion of evolution. 6. Be able to describe the 3 reasons discussed in class for the delayed publication of The Origin of Species, and know its publication date. 7. Be able to describe the 2 competing alternatives to Darwin’s natural selection. 8. Be able to define: (a) meme, (b) recipe, and (c) blue print. 9. Know the person responsible for the meme, and the book in which the term “meme” was introduced. 10. Be able to describe, using the example of the human eye, the value of small and incremental improvements. 11. Be able to list and define the 3 levels of selection.

Guided Notes: Evolution and Behavior

2

Background Earth: ≈ __________ billion years old Large-scale diversity in life Followed by ____________ out period Our species as we know is predicted to be __________________ years old. Scope: We can see the process of evolution within our _______________ (e.g., drug resistance) We will think of evolution, _____________________, but as a way of talking about changes that occur in a species. Selection (Resistance) in Agriculture Herbicides (aka, weed killer) are used to kill unwanted plants. Within our lifetime, crops become _____________ to herbicides. Selection (Resistance) in Medicine Antibiotics Antibiotics effectively wipe out Variant 1, but Variant 2 evolves to fight antibiotics. Generally, more options will be better than less options. Translation: High degrees of ________________ are preferred in the process of “selection.” We credit evolution to the tireless work of _______________________________________. On Variation __________________________________: differential survival of the members of a population Features that are more valuable and more useful (contribute to survival) are _____________________. For selection to work there must be ________________________. Opportunities to “pick” from the menu of options. Darwin and Artificial Selection Natural selection was extrapolated from what was going on right in front of Darwin, _____________________.

Guided Notes: 3 Evolution and Behavior Darwin noticed that features of plants and animals were being selected in the breeding of animals and in ______________________________ (the science of plant cultivation). If humans intervened to build a better horse, this was not ________________________, this was artificial selection. What distinguishes natural from artificial selection is whether or not a _______________ is the cause of change. Note how the examples illustrate that certain features (size) can be selected to produce particularly large and particularly small animals. Darwin suggested that if humans could select features that would become more likely, then this might be possible ________________________________, without human intervention. Note the specific example offered by Carl Sagan (which illustrates the selection process). On The Origin of Species Published in __________________, this book laid out Darwin’s key findings. However, he was extremely _______________ to publish his findings. Why it Took So Long to Publish The Origin of Species 1. He was very ________________ and did not attempt to write for 20 years. 2. He feared the reaction that his book would receive. [Specifically, …_______________________] 3. He wanted to gather _____________________________. The Price of Waiting Too Long In fact, Darwin waited too long to publish his findings. __________________________ came along with a similar model of selection. Darwin however, collected enormous amounts of data to support his model. At the time, there were several competing ________________________ to Darwin’s model of selection Note: As is the case in selection, variation is a good thing in scientific discourse. Alternative explanations allow one to test the rigor of a model. Alternatives to Darwin’s Model of Selection (2) 1. ____________________________: the notion that forces within the organism were responsible for evolution, the environment did not matter.

Guided Notes: Evolution and Behavior This alternative was dismissed due to Darwin’s evidence of variation by environment.

4

Example provided. 2. _______________________________: dominant and recessive genetic material determined contributions to the next generation. This account did not permit for variation. The addition of ___________________________ : evolution proceeded through spontaneous and large genetic changes did account for variation, however… In the 19th century, genes were ______________________ entities. But evolution posited that genetic material was passed from one generation to the next. We needed a way to talk about (conceptualize) the _________________ of genetic material. Is the transmission of mission genetic material analogous to a recipe or a blue print? __________________________ : a representation or a copy. A blueprint does not show you _____________________ construct the structure that it shows. ___________________________ : a sequence of procedures or instructions. A recipe does not necessarily involve a _________________ of the product. Thus, our genetic material is best conceived as a _____________________. Variation and Selection: Speed as an Example

Causes Revisit your definitions of _________________________ and ________________________. The sources of variation are in the ____________________________. There must be some basic ingredients that allow for the selection of particular features. Why do giraffes have long necks? In general, we will assume that natural selection can take place __________________ (within the life time) or _______________________ (across the history of a species).

Guided Notes: Evolution and Behavior

5

For most examples, we find that the process is gradual. Another Example of Gradual Change _______________________ If the eye is a product of natural selection, it could not have emerged “_________________________.” When the first human developed “vision,” was 1% of an eye useful? ___________________ 1% of an eye is a substantial _____________________ if the alternative is 0%. Those with 1% of an eye passed on their genetic material, and the selection process was put into motion. Our ability to _________________, and change our behavior as a result of our immediate past would have to have been ________________. Example provided.

To reiterate: Just like vision was “useful” and selected, the ability to learn was “useful” and _______________. Definitions _______________________: that which occurs over the evolutionary history of the organism’s species e.g., vision, bipedal How can we influence phylogenic selection and see the results? ____________________ It’s important that we understand this type of selection, but we cannot affect it, and see the outcome. ________________________________: the selection that occurs within the lifetime of the organism e.g., where to shop for the best used books, how you speak in front of your family The ________________________ selects which responses occur with greater frequency (not you). Three Levels of Selection We have already discussed 2. 1. Phylogenic, which is equivalent to (synonymous with) _______________________________

Guided Notes: Evolution and Behavior 2. Ontogenic, which is equivalent to (synonymous with) _______________________________

6

3. ________________________ (memetic) involves the selection of behavior as it is passed from one organism to another (e.g., language, religious practices). Let’s be sure to discuss how cultural practices are illustrated by activities associated with particular dates. What’s a meme? An _____________ or _________________ that is spread from person-to-person, in a culture. Some examples of what I believe are contemporary memes. Note From Dr. Sy: If I’m demonstrating my senior citizen status, and if I’m completely off base, please send me links to contemporary memes that you find interesting. The term meme was introduced by _____________________________ in his book, ___________________________ (1976). Again, the meme (or cultural selection) allows us to pass information among members of the culture. A thoroughgoing account of behavior must account for __________________________________. Summary The process of evolution can happen across the lifetime of a species or during the lifetime of the organism. We distinguish between natural and artificial selection. Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859) laid out the essential findings that support ____________________. The ______________________ (and all things in it) is what _______________________ our behavior....