Study Guide Evolution

To-Do Date: Oct 30 at 11:59am

In order to understand the origin of SARS COV2, we need to understand evolution, natural selection and mutations. There are many misconceptions about evolution and this cartoon shows one nicely. The beaver would like to cut down more trees for food and building his/her lodge.  So he thinks very hard and wills  himself to have a chainsaw paw. Explain what is wrong with this idea?

 

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Learning Objectives   Students will be able to answer these questions:

1. What is evolution? To understand this you will need to address the following

• • What is a gene?
  • What is a gene pool?
  • What reshuffles genetic information from generation to generation?
  • What is evolution in terms of frequency of genes?
  • What are 5 different mechanisms that can lead to evolution?
  • Which of these introduces new genes?
  • Which of these leads to adaptations?
  • What is an adaptation? 
  • What is natural selection in terms of genes, variations and adaptation to environment?

2. What is natural selection? 

• • Why does their need to be variability in the population for natural selection to occur?
  • Why does that variability need to be heritable?
  • Why does their need to be difference in reproductive success?
  • How does the environment determine which traits are most favorable?

3.How do mutations affect the genetic variation of a virus?

• • What are mutations?
  • How does the mutation in the DNA affect the RNA?
  • How do these  mutations affect the protein?
  • What mutations will have the greatest impact on protein amino acid sequence?
  • The least  impact?
  • What is the relation between mutations and protein shape, folding and function? 
  • How does the environment affect the impact of a mutation on the organism? 
  • How do mutations happen in day to day life of cells?
  • Why are mutations random? 

4. What is the connection between genes, proteins, phenotype and natural selection?

• • How does variation  in genes lead to variations in protein structure?
  • How does that variation in the protein structure lead to variation in phenotype?
  • How does variation in phenotype lead to differences in survival and reproduction?