BIOL 2P05- Final Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 93 pages long!)
29 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Evolutionary biology: the study of origin, maintenance, and diversity of life on earth, over approx. the past 3. 5 billion years. Diversity of life has descended from previously existing species. The often exquisite fit of a species to their environment is a result of natural selection. All living things have descended from a common ancestor. Can view all species as a vast, branching tree. One of the most important conceptual foundations of biology. There is modification of each subsequent species, to fit their environment. Natural selection is one of the most important processes responsible for the modification. Genetic mutations that change the phenotype (physical characteristics) and can affect the fitness (survival rate and reproductive success) of the population. However, accumulation of advantageous mutations over long periods of time can produce dramatic effects. Select seeds from plants with the largest strawberries, plant those. Development of pesticides was a major breakthrough increasing crop productivity. However, natural selection will favour pests that are resistant.
