Answer: Formation of new species. Isolation prevents interbreeding; separate mutations and selection lead to different traits until they can no longer mate.
Scenario: Antibiotic resistance.
Answer: Some bacteria have a natural mutation for resistance. When antibiotics are used, only these "fit" ones survive and reproduce, creating a resistant population.
Critical Thinking: Are humans still evolving?
Answer: Yes (e.g., lactose tolerance, wisdom teeth disappearing), but cultural/medical evolution is now faster than biological evolution.
Application: Carbon Dating.
Answer: Measures the decay of Carbon-14 in organic fossils to determine their age (up to 50,000 years).
Ontogeny vs Phylogeny.
Answer: Ontogeny: Development of an individual embryo. Phylogeny: Evolutionary history of a species.
Diagram Based: Galapagos Finches.
Answer: Different beaks evolved from a common ancestor to exploit different food sources (seeds, insects, nectar) on different islands.
Role of Mutation.
Answer: It is the primary source of new genetic variations upon which natural selection acts.
Analysis:Cro-Magnon.
Answer: They were identical to modern humans in anatomy, had advanced art (cave paintings), and used complex bone/stone tools.
Competency: "Living Fossils".
Answer: Species that have remained largely unchanged for millions of years (e.g., King Crab).
Case: Mountain isolation.
Answer: Geographical isolation leads to reproductive isolation over time.
Creating: Dinosaur extinction hypothesis.
Answer: True; the mass extinction of dinosaurs cleared ecological niches, allowing small mammals to diversify and grow.
Designing: Vestigial visual aid.
Answer: [Sketch pointing to tailbone (Coccyx), wisdom teeth, and nictitating membrane (eye corner)].
Application: Embryology evidence.
Answer: Early embryos of fish, birds, and humans look almost identical, suggesting a common vertebrate ancestor.
Critical Thinking: "Out of Africa" theory.
Answer: Suggests all modern humans originated in Africa and migrated to other continents. Supported by DNA evidence.
Analysis: Gene Pool.
Answer: The total set of unique alleles in a population.