Textbook Question
True or false? Some traits are considered vestigial because they existed long ago.
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Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection
Freeman7th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9783584863285
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life11
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life10
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function11
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells10
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation16
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis14
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions14
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle12
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis13
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene32
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair8
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work35
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria19
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes17
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers23
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution13
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection17
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea17
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes19
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants18
- Ch. 29 - Fungi19
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals20
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals19
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function16
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development18
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology16
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology16
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology16
Chapter 22, Problem 2
Why does the presence of extinct forms and transitional features in the fossil record support the pattern component of the theory of evolution by natural selection? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that individuals change over time.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that weaker species are eliminated by natural selection.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that species evolve to become more complex and better adapted over time.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that species change over time.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the context of the problem: The question is asking about how the fossil record supports the theory of evolution by natural selection. Specifically, it focuses on the presence of extinct forms and transitional features, which are key evidence for evolutionary change over time.
Clarify the concept of transitional features: Transitional features are traits in fossils that show intermediate characteristics between ancestral and derived species. These features provide evidence that species have changed over time, supporting the idea of evolution.
Analyze each statement: For each hypothesis, determine whether it aligns with the evidence provided by the fossil record. For example, the fossil record does not directly support the idea that individuals change over time (evolution occurs at the population level, not the individual level).
Evaluate the role of natural selection: The fossil record supports the idea that weaker species may be eliminated over time, but this is a simplification. Natural selection favors traits that increase fitness, which may lead to the extinction of less adapted species.
Assess the complexity and adaptation hypothesis: While the fossil record shows that species change over time, it does not necessarily support the idea that species always evolve to become more complex. Evolution is not inherently directional; it depends on environmental pressures and survival needs.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Fossil Record
The fossil record is a historical archive of biological remains that provides evidence of past life forms and their evolution over time. It includes transitional fossils, which exhibit traits common to both ancestral and descendant groups, illustrating the gradual changes that occur in species. This record supports the theory of evolution by showing how species have adapted and diversified through natural selection.
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Biases in the Fossil Record
Natural Selection
Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process leads to the gradual adaptation of species to their environments. The presence of transitional features in fossils supports the idea that species evolve over time through this selective process, as those with beneficial adaptations are favored.
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Evolutionary Change
Evolutionary change refers to the process by which species undergo modifications over generations, leading to the emergence of new species and the extinction of others. This concept encompasses the idea that species are not static but dynamic, adapting to environmental pressures. The fossil record, with its extinct forms and transitional features, provides concrete evidence that species change over time, supporting the broader theory of evolution.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Traits that are derived from a common ancestor, like the bones of human arms and bird wings, are said to be .
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Textbook Question
Traits that are derived from a common ancestor, like the bones of human arms and bird wings, are said to be .
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Textbook Question
How can evolutionary fitness be measured? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F Document how long individuals survive.
T/F Count the number of healthy, fertile offspring produced.
T/F Determine which individuals are strongest.
T/F Determine which phenotype is the most common.
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