Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
74 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
4 aspects of evolution |
1. Species can change 2. Species can give rise to another species 3. Humans are descendants from non-human ancestors 4. Every species on earth is decended from another single common ancestor |
|
|
This answered darwins how question of how evolution occurred |
Natural selection |
|
|
What is described as: a population of things that make copies of themselves copying process is not perfect the copying errors lead to differences in the abilities of the offspring to survive and make copies of themselves |
Natural selection |
|
|
What 2 things do all reputable scientists agree on regarding evolution |
1. Evolution takes place 2. Natural selection is a mechanism |
|
|
What 5 things do all reputable scientists disagree on regarding evolution |
1. Natural selection is the on,y mechanism 2. How fast does natural selection occur 3. What level does natural selection happen on 4. Are all changes adaptions 5. Do only physical features adapt by natural selection |
|
|
How do scientists disagree on the idea that natural selection is the only mechanism? |
Ultra Darwinists say yes, it is the only mechanism others believe it can be self-organization symbiogenesis: Lynn margulis - theory that the incorporation of microbial genetic systems into progenitors of animals or plants. |
|
|
How do scientists disagree on the speed natural selection occurs? |
Punctuated equilibrium: slow until something big happens slow and continous |
|
|
How do scientists disagree on the level that natural selection occurs? |
Darwin said on the organism level Dawkins @gene level gould said at all levels |
|
|
How do scientists disagree on the concept that all changes are adaptions? |
Ultra say yes spandrels: structures made for empty spaces until used (Gould) exaptions: something created for one purpose then used for another- feathers |
|
|
How do scientists disagree on if physical features are the only adaptions by natural selection? |
Dawkins believed in cultural memes- unit of cultural inheritance |
|
|
Main concepts of Gell-Mann |
Particle physicist Quark model frozen accidents plectics schemata |
|
|
Define frozen accident |
Historical coincidence |
|
|
Define plectics |
The study of complexity and simplicity as it is manifested- not just in nature but in such phenomena as economics and language -twisted and braided complexity and simplicity |
|
|
Define schemata |
Models that adapt and change |
|
|
Main concepts of Stuart Kauffman |
-theoretical biologist -studied the origin of life and the origin of molecular models -order for free: random networks that exhibit a kind of all organization -convergent NOT divergent flow -complex systems that are best able to adapt poised between chaos and order -artificial life: artificial organism that competes for life within a simulation
|
|
|
Main concepts of Christopher Langton |
Phase transistions algorithm edge of chaos emergent properties cusp catastrophes hysteresis |
|
|
Define phase transitions |
Transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase or state of matter to another |
|
|
Define algorithm |
A series of steps to solve a problem |
|
|
Define edge of chaos |
fluid enough for innovations and changes but organized enough to accomplish work |
|
|
Define emergent properties |
When parts of complex system interact, something comes out of it no one old expect. e.g. Consciousness |
|
|
Define cusp catastrophe |
Possibility of bifurcation, on the brink of phase transition |
|
|
Define bifurcation |
A division of something into two branches. a transformation can influence a system to reorganize or enter into a completely different state |
|
|
Define pitchfork bifurcation |
A change that can occur in either direction |
|
|
Define hysteresis |
Changing the point of catalytic change |
|
|
Define recursion |
Information from a system is led back upon itself, thereby changing the nature of the system and affect of the initial condition. -often responsible for unanticipated or paradoxal outcomes e.g. Mirror within a mirror |
|
|
Define entrainment |
2 or more storms join to become a larger, synchronous system, effecting the synchronization of 2 or more rhythmic systems into a single pulse. |
|
|
Define disequilibrium |
A system that is in a state capable of change |
|
|
Define weak chaos |
A small amount of chaos that may be introduced into a system to keep it dynamic |
|
|
Define fractal |
Self-similarity in which iteration reproduces the Self similar pattern at different levels of scale, over and over. |
|
|
Define Self-organization |
Characteristic of a complex adaptive system- the spontaneous reemergence of a turbulent, disequilibrium system into patterned, computational behavior |
|
|
Define attractor |
A system that appears to exist in apparent disorder may continue to refer, in its evolution, toward a certain "attracted" behavior or state of being |
|
|
Define sensitive dependent on initial conditions |
A very small input into a system may yield widely disparate results in both form and quantity |
|
|
define entropy |
The inexorable tendency of the universe and any isolated system within it, to slide toward a state of increasing disorder |
|
|
Define dissipating system |
An open, bounded system whose energy is given off to its surroundings; as contrasted to a rightly, bounded conservative systems. |
|
|
Define determinism |
This refers to the paradoxal act that language makes it possible to describe and prescribe the parameters and behaviors of a system although it is not possible to linear.y predict the form of its evolution over time |
|
|
Phase portraits |
Aka phase space portraits are the geometrical topographical representations of the dynamics of a system that enables the mapping of possible states the system can go through. |
|
|
Define fuzzy logic |
Reasoning with non-absolute or dichotomous quantities or concepts;relates to the mental processes that enable human beings to understand chaos. |
|
|
Discuss the main concepts of Richard Dawkins |
Selfish gene Reductionism (greedy or precipice reductionism) Extended Phenotype Cultural Meme Evolution of evolvability replicator |
|
|
Describe the selfish gene theory |
Dawkin's concept of an animal being a survival machine for its genes. |
|
|
Describe reductionism |
this is a concept where things are examine in a hierarchy from the top to the bottom. Greedy or precipice reductionism jumps from top to bottom (using electrons to explain microsoft or nerve endings to explain Shakespeare poetry). Step by step reductionism or hierarchical reductionism looks to better understand things through a step by step process. |
|
|
Explain extended phenotype |
the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. |
|
|
Describe the concept of Cultural Meme |
This theory, as developed by Dawkins, talks about a cultural inheritance (meme) |
|
|
Describe "evolution of evolvability" |
The concept that certain embryos are better at evolving. |
|
|
Discuss the connection between reductionism and complexity. |
A system that has high levels of complexity limits reductionism. This is due to emergent properties related to the non-linear aspect of the system and its unpredictability |
|
|
Major concepts of Lynn Margulis |
Biologist symbiogenesis GAIA hypothesis Convergence NOT divergence |
|
|
define symbiogenesis |
The incorporation of microbial genetic systems into progenitors of animal or plant cells. Happens within Mitochondria and the eukaryotic cell carries DNA only from the MOTHER. |
|
|
Discuss the concepts of Stephen Gould |
No progress in evolution Spandrels Punctuated Equilibrium |
|
|
What is DNA |
DeoxyNucleicAcid Contains all of the information for survival Blueprint of life |
|
|
How many nucleotides make up DNA |
4 nucleotides |
|
|
What are the 4 nucleotides of DNA |
Adenine Cytosine Thymine Guanine |
|
|
Define Gene |
A sequence of nucleotides that provide the cell with instructions Provides instructions for making proteins |
|
|
How many chromosomes are in a human |
46 chromosomes/ 23 pairs |
|
|
What is a genome |
All of the genes found on the chromosomes of some organism. Contains all of the genetic material of an organism |
|
|
What are the functions of a genome |
replicate/segregate protein synthesis |
|
|
What is the process of DNA to RNA called |
Transcription |
|
|
Describe the process of transcription |
Gene expression turns DNA "on" to make RNA. Initiation: A RNA polymerase will be released within a promoter. Elongation: An RNA transcription will bind complimentary strand of mRNA (CGAU). Termination: Completed mRNA strand and DNA strand reunited. |
|
|
Describe the process of translation |
mRNA contain the codon (3 nucleotides) The ribosome is where the mRNA is translated. tRNA will carry the Amino Acid to the mRNA to translate the A.A. sequence. |
|
|
What happens if there are mutations within the DNA sequence |
Cancer, Sickle Cell, Alzheimer |
|
|
What is an epigenome |
An array of chemical markers that sit on DNA and can act as an on/off switch |
|
|
What are methyl donors |
Small chemical clusters that can attach to a gene to turn it off |
|
|
What are 2 ways to change epigenetics |
1. DNA methylation (CH3) turns them on/off 2. Histone Code: Protein that DNA code is wrapped around. Alterations to the packaging cause certain genes to be more or less available to the cell's chemical machinery and can determine whether those genes are expressed or not. |
|
|
Define epigenetics |
The concept that every cell has the same genetic information BUT cells function differently based on what is expressed |
|
|
What has happened in the recent past in terms of genes/genomes |
gene sequencing human genome project
|
|
|
what has the human genome project- goals, benefits, facts |
goals: identify the 100k genes in human DNA determine the seq of 3 billion bases that make up DNA store the information in a database develop tools for data analysis
Benefits: ID and map all genes better understanding of genomes improvements in medicine better understanding of evolution
Facts: size of genome: 3 billion base pairs # of human genes: ~30,000 avg size: 3,000 bp only 2% of genome contains genes function of 50% of protein coding genes Complexity does NOT correlate with genome size Complexity does NOT correlate with genome # Medical Implications/ gene therapy |
|
|
What is a linear system |
A system where the results are directly proportional. i.e. small input = small output Change is predictable |
|
|
Assuming all parts of a system are ___, predication is possible. |
Linear |
|
|
define complexity science |
The study of dynamic systems that adapt to their environment where unexpected results will arise from the interaction of components |
|
|
Define emergent properties |
The unexpected results that arise from the interaction of components within a complex system |
|
|
Describe chaos |
The concept that very simple systems may give rise to very complicated behavior |
|
|
Describe non-linear systems |
Very sensitive to initial conditions change input might not equal a change in output whole>sum of the parts |
|
|
Components of Complex Adaptive Systems |
changeable elements non-linear emergent behavior sensitive to small changes behavior unpredictable must be observed to know what it will do Attractors |
|
|
Define attractors |
general patterns discernible over time that allow useful statements to be made |
|
|
Adaptive systems DO NOT strive for ___. |
Equilibrium |
|
|
characteristics of an adaptive system |
fuzzy boundaries systems influence each other- nested systems/agents agents use internalized rules to react to their environment- rules need not be logical, shared or explicit will never have a constant environment individual= indépendant decision maker effective solutions may emerge from minimal specifications small change may carry large effect interconnection of parts more important than composition of parts
|
