Oh no! This is the end! I hope you've learned something from reading my blog!
Here are the websites I used for the following blogs:
Most information I got from the textbook I was provided, and/or Wikipedia, and using the text book to make sure it was correct.
Linnaeus classification: Linnaeaon taxonomy. (2007, August). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnaean_taxonomy
Paleontology: Paleontology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleontology
Radiometric dating: Radiometric dating. (2011, April 11). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiometric_dating
Biogeography: Biogeography. (2011, April 24). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogeography
Homologous structures: Homologous structures. (2011, May 4). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homology_(biology)
As for the rest of the terms used in my blog, I used the biology 20-30 textbook.
Thursday 14 April 2011
5.6 - Speciation(allopatric)/Rate of Evolution (gradualisms, punctuated equilibrium)/Macroevolution (divergent evolution)
Speciation – allopatric
Speciation is the creation of a new species. This evolves the branching effect as shown by the theory of gradualism, theory of punctuated equilibrium and macroevolution (knowns as digvergent evolution)
Take for example the human evolution tree. Scientists believe we descend from goliath. But earlier on we could have been neanderthalls, but they diverged into other species.
Theory of Gradualism:
The theory of gradualism is a theory that believes that certain species originate from a specific ancestor, and over time they gradually (and evenly) evolved.
Speciation is the creation of a new species. This evolves the branching effect as shown by the theory of gradualism, theory of punctuated equilibrium and macroevolution (knowns as digvergent evolution)
Take for example the human evolution tree. Scientists believe we descend from goliath. But earlier on we could have been neanderthalls, but they diverged into other species.
Theory of Gradualism:
The theory of gradualism is a theory that believes that certain species originate from a specific ancestor, and over time they gradually (and evenly) evolved.
Theory of punctuated equilibrium: The theory of punctuated equilibrium is different from gradulism
Rate of Evolution (theory of gradualism, theory of punctuated equilibrium)
Macroevolution (divergent evolution)
This picture describes both theorys.5.5 - Mutation/Sexual reproduction
What is mutation? Benefitial ones? Neutral ones? Any harmful ones?
Sometimes in a genetic sequence (known as DNA) mostly spontaneous changes occur. These changes are usually brought on by various reasons such as radiation, viruses and mutagenic chemicals (Think polution)
Mutations can either be harmful, benefitial or neutral. An example of a mutation for each would be
Beneficial: Though this is not a proven fact, but an observation on my part, a beneficial mutation could be peoples ears. I have notice that people that live in hotter regions sometimes have ears that stick out of there heads. I think this is due to high temperatures, that since the ears stick out more it creates for surface area to allow the person to remain cooler a little longer.
Neutral: Mexican Tetra, is a blind albino fish (no eyes and no skin pigmentation) that resides in caves in Mexico. Since these fish live in deep dark caves, they've lost their eyesight and colour (no sun to hit them) but they can still find there way around due to their lateral lines which are highly sensitive.
Harmful: Some hereditary diseases (there was a mutation in the germ cell)
Mutations can either be harmful, benefitial or neutral. An example of a mutation for each would be
Beneficial: Though this is not a proven fact, but an observation on my part, a beneficial mutation could be peoples ears. I have notice that people that live in hotter regions sometimes have ears that stick out of there heads. I think this is due to high temperatures, that since the ears stick out more it creates for surface area to allow the person to remain cooler a little longer.
Neutral: Mexican Tetra, is a blind albino fish (no eyes and no skin pigmentation) that resides in caves in Mexico. Since these fish live in deep dark caves, they've lost their eyesight and colour (no sun to hit them) but they can still find there way around due to their lateral lines which are highly sensitive.
Harmful: Some hereditary diseases (there was a mutation in the germ cell)
What is sexual reproduction?
Artificial selection and selective breeding are the same thing. We use selective breeding alot, for things such as fruits and vegetation and even dog breeds. People will breed dogs and select certain dog for there traits and reproduce them to create the "ultimate" breed. Ex: Labradoodles are a mix of a Labrador and Poodles.
5.4 - Lamarkism/ Darwins theory of natural selection
What is Lamarkism? (inheritance of acquired characteristics
Lamarkism is the idea that if an organism acquires certain characteristiques while they are alive, that it could pass them onto its offspring.
For an example:
Gertrude has been texting since she was very little. Years of texting on her blackberry have made her thumbs big and full of muscle and dexterity. As a direct result she has no problem opening hard to open jars, playing thumb war, and anything that might need a thumb to fully function. Her neighbor, Arthur thinks her thumbs are sexy, and mates with her. (refer to 5.5 to find out what mating is). According to Lamarkism, the bigger/muscular thumb would pass onto her offspring because it was an acquired characteristic in her lifetime.
Natural selection, or otherwise known as Darwinism, is the theory of which if a certain acquired trait in a species genetic coding is highly effective in the specific environment in which the organism lives, it will most likely be passed onto it's offspring. Highly effective in areas like sexual reproduction and survival.
5.3 - homologous structures/embryology/vestigial features/biochemistry
What are homologous structures?
Horses, humans, birds and whales all have homologous features. But what is that? Take a look at the forelimbs of a horse, a human, a bird and a whale (they use to have legs! I know, weird right?!) they all have very similar bone structures yet all have different functions.
What is embryology?
Is the study of development of embryo's. It starts from the moment the "egg" is fertilized to the fetus stage.
This is a picture of different species in different embryonic stages.
What is vestigial features?
What does the human appendix do for me? Why do whales have hip bones? Features that organisms have but do not function, or we don't use are known as vestigial features. Scientists believe that millions of years ago, vestigial features were actually useful. Take a look at some modern snakes and whales, they have hipbones, which is evidence that suggests that they used to have legs! (Can you imagine a whale walking on land?)
What is biochemistry?
How do scientists know that the closest related mammal to a human being is a chimp? Because scientists us Biochemistry to compare biochemicals of different species. Proteins are molecules that make up structures in organism, so using biochemistry scientists are able to differentiate between species, and find relations. (Use page 146 in the bio text book too look at figure 5) Scientists are also using biochemistry to try and peace together the order of evolution. What came first, the chicken or the egg?
5.2 - Paleontology/Radiometric dating/Biogeography
What is Paleontology?
How do we know what type of organisms lived on the earth before we did? How do we know that dinosaurs, mammoths and other creatures lived before us? Scientists use paleontogy to study the ever-changing earth to try and figure out what came before us. But what is paleontology? Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life, including the evolution of organisms and fossils. Scientists use paleontology to determine what lived on the earth before us. Paleontology has helped us discover that dinosaurs used to roam the earth, and before that little organisms lived on earth also.
What is Radiometric dating?
Is a technique used by scientists to determine the correct age (or as close as possible!) of fossils and rocks by using the surrounding rocks or dirt itself and using the decaying rates. Paleontologists use Radiometric techniques to estimate accurate ages for fossils.
What is Biogeography?
How are there six types of moose and of which four reside in North America. The other two sub-species live in Europe. Why are they on different continents? Did they swim across the ocean to Europe, or from Europe to North America? That's where Biogeography comes in. Biogeography explores in depth the variations of different types of species, and their distribution on earth. Biogeography studies the past and present of species. Since the beginning of Earth's creationg, the landmass has changed over millions of years. Thanks to scientists and their vigorous studies, we know that aproximately 225 million years ago Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica, Europe and Australia were all part of one continent, called Pangea. As a result of one ultimate continent, organisms that date to 150 million years ago (Thank you fossils!) and older that were once in the same region we split up when Pangea was split up.
How do we know what type of organisms lived on the earth before we did? How do we know that dinosaurs, mammoths and other creatures lived before us? Scientists use paleontogy to study the ever-changing earth to try and figure out what came before us. But what is paleontology? Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life, including the evolution of organisms and fossils. Scientists use paleontology to determine what lived on the earth before us. Paleontology has helped us discover that dinosaurs used to roam the earth, and before that little organisms lived on earth also.
What is Radiometric dating?
Is a technique used by scientists to determine the correct age (or as close as possible!) of fossils and rocks by using the surrounding rocks or dirt itself and using the decaying rates. Paleontologists use Radiometric techniques to estimate accurate ages for fossils.
What is Biogeography?
How are there six types of moose and of which four reside in North America. The other two sub-species live in Europe. Why are they on different continents? Did they swim across the ocean to Europe, or from Europe to North America? That's where Biogeography comes in. Biogeography explores in depth the variations of different types of species, and their distribution on earth. Biogeography studies the past and present of species. Since the beginning of Earth's creationg, the landmass has changed over millions of years. Thanks to scientists and their vigorous studies, we know that aproximately 225 million years ago Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica, Europe and Australia were all part of one continent, called Pangea. As a result of one ultimate continent, organisms that date to 150 million years ago (Thank you fossils!) and older that were once in the same region we split up when Pangea was split up.
5.1 - Taxonomy/binomial nomenclature
What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is a branch of science that has to do with the classifications of organisms. Taxonomists is the term that is used when referring to a scientist that works with taxonomy. There are two main purposes for why taxonomy is used to classify organisms.
1) to identify organisms (example, Canis - dog and felis- cat)
2) to provide a very basic set of groups to recognize different species.
The following picture is the classification of a large cat. (Hopefully this explains a little bit more!)
What is binomial nomenclature?
A term invented by Linnaeus, it was created to be the formal system of naming all living organisms. Each naming has two parts, the genus name and the species name. Every name is based on latin, or modernized latin. An example of binomial nomenclature would be Southern flying squirrels, or scientifically known as the glaucomys volans, which is part of the sciuridae family. Small to medium sized rodents are part of Sciuridae family, which includes tree squirrels, ground squirels, chipmunks etc.
Taxonomy is a branch of science that has to do with the classifications of organisms. Taxonomists is the term that is used when referring to a scientist that works with taxonomy. There are two main purposes for why taxonomy is used to classify organisms.
1) to identify organisms (example, Canis - dog and felis- cat)
2) to provide a very basic set of groups to recognize different species.
The following picture is the classification of a large cat. (Hopefully this explains a little bit more!)
What is binomial nomenclature?
A term invented by Linnaeus, it was created to be the formal system of naming all living organisms. Each naming has two parts, the genus name and the species name. Every name is based on latin, or modernized latin. An example of binomial nomenclature would be Southern flying squirrels, or scientifically known as the glaucomys volans, which is part of the sciuridae family. Small to medium sized rodents are part of Sciuridae family, which includes tree squirrels, ground squirels, chipmunks etc.
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