ASTR 5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Carboxylic Acid, Advantageous, Genetic Code
Document Summary
Chapter 5: the nature of life on earth. Review questions: describe the 6 key properties that appear to be shared by most living organisms on. Summarize logic by which darwin came to the inescapable conclusion that evolution occurs by natural selection. Describe some of the evidence that supports darwin"s theory of evolution. Natural selection: primary mechanism by which evolution proceeds process by which, over time, advantageous genetic traits naturally win out over less advantageous traits because they are more likely to be passed down through succeeding generations. Inescapable conclusion (unequal reproductive success): in the struggle for survival, individuals with traits that enables them to survive and reproduce, will, on average, leave larger number of offspring that in turn survive to reproduce. Therefore, in any environment heritable traits that enhance survival and successful reproduction will become progressively more common in succeeding generations. Discuss whether life elsewhere could be based on something besides carbon.
