BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Evolutionary Algorithm, Theodosius Dobzhansky, Social Darwinism
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Levels of biological organization: molecules, cells, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems. Type of question: how (proximate questions): involve determining physiological or genetic mechanisms responsible for aspects of a trait, why (ultimate questions): involve determining ecological function and adaptive significance of a trait. Approaches used in evolutionary biology: observational: describe and quantify, understand natural history. Some areas of evolutionary biology that you can"t do experiments on, work on organisms that evolve quickly to observe evolutionary changes (microbes) Evolutionary biology is not well understood by public, people don"t have a clear view of how it works, some don"t know it exists. Important assumptions about evolution verified by scientific study. Lineages split or branch by speciation, resulting in the generation of biodiversity. Most evolutionary change results from natural selection (the only process responsible for the evolution of biodiversity and adaptation) Biodiversity and adaptation are therefore products of evolution.
