Chapter 26: The tree of life: An
introduction to biological diversity
- Describe the evidence that suggests that RNA was the
first genetic material. Explain the significance of the discovery of ribozymes.
- Describe how natural selection may have
worked in an early RNA world.
- Explain how the histories of Earth and
life are inseparable.
- Explain how index fossils can be used to
determine the relative age of fossil-bearing rock strata. Explain how
radiometric dating can be used to determine the absolute age of rock
strata. Explain how magnetism can be used to date rock strata.
- Describe the major events in Earth’s
history from its origin until 2 billion years ago. In particular, note
when Earth first formed, when life first evolved, and what forms of life
existed in each eon.
- How many mass
extinctions were there and what are some of the causes? If we are
in a current mass extinction, what is the cause?
- Describe the timing and significance of
the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis
- Explain the endosymbiotic
theory for the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Describe the evidence
that supports this theory.
- Describe the timing of key events in the
evolution of the first eukaryotes and later multicellular eukaryotes.
- Explain how the snowball-Earth hypothesis
explains why multicellular eukaryotes were so limited in size, diversity,
and distribution until the late Proterozoic.
- Describe the key evolutionary adaptations
that arose as life colonized land.
- Explain how continental drift explains Australia’s
unique flora and fauna.
- Explain why R. H. Whittaker’s
five-kingdom system has been replaced by a new system with three domains.
Lecture Highlights:
- How many species
exist (are extant) today?
- How many
species have there ever been (are extinct)?
- Speciation
and recent examples of “new” species
- Extinction
- Biological
history linked with geologic history
- Life and the
atmosphere (relevance to current times)
- Phyletic vs.
branching evolution
- Birds;
Horses; Primates
- Comparisons
between Domains, Kingdoms (cell size and structure, nutritional mode, reproduction,
growth)