Environmental studies and Forestry

The Tree of Life

Watch the video Tree of Life by David Attenborough. Note: If this link to the video does not work you can always search for it by name and it will appear in YouTube.

Select “Create Thread” first, then paste/type your answers. Your answers should be in your own words after having watched the video and reading other sources of information for reference, such as your textbook. Post your answers to these questions before responding to classmates’ posts. Note: your initial post, to these questions, must be posted first, in chronological order, before your response posts.

1. Describe two examples of natural selection, from the Galapagos Islands, that Darwin observed and were described in the video.

2. Name two examples of artificial selection.

3. How is artificial selection different than natural selection?

4. How does the production of more offspring than will survive play a role in natural selection?

5. What is the significance of Archaeopteryx?

6. How is it that a structure, as complex as an eye, can be produced by natural selection?

7. Why is it that religion and theories of evolution conflict?

8. What scientific evidence has been discovered since Darwin’s time that supports evolution by natural selection?

9. Name 2 groups of organisms that were described from the tree of life. Relate these groups to their position on the tree and to other closely related groups.

Upon submitting your answers, you will then read and respond to at least two other classmates’ post. For one of your responses to a classmate, respond with some commentary, follow-up, additions, or refute (in a polite, respectful way using proper netiquette), to two of their answers. For the other response to a classmate, do the same for their responses, but to two different questions you haven’t addressed yet. For example, you decide to respond to George and address his answers to questions #1 and #5. The other classmate you decide to respond to is Suzie and you decide to respond to her answers for #4 and #8 (discuss different question/answers with each fellow student). Your response posts should be substantial in length and contain substance that adds something significant to the conversation. Do not just say things along the lines of “I really liked your response to this question”, but rather explain and go into detail as to why you liked their response, for instance.

This discussion forum is worth 10 points and goes toward your participation grade. The initial answering of the nine questions concerning the video is worth 6 points and the response portion of the forum is worth 4 points (2 points for each response).

Do your own work, do not copy or even paraphrase somebody else’s work. I’ll be on the lookout for such things as I grade and have various tools available to check for plagiarism. All college rules of Academic Dishonesty are fully in effect.

Tree of life: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsxubk

ANSWER

The Tree of Life
1. Describe two examples of natural selection from the Galapagos Islands that Darwin observed and were described in the video.

Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches. He discovered that different species of finches varied from one island to another.  A second natural selection is the giant tortoises which had longer necks than those that lived on other islands with dry lowlands.
2. Name two examples of artificial selection.

The first example of artificial selection is the breeding of dairy cows to yield more milk.

Another example is the selective breeding of dogs to produce the massive number of ‘pure-bred’ dogs today.
3. How is artificial selection different than natural selection?

Natural selection is a natural occurrence that causes changes in animals and plants.  For artificial selection, the changes in animals and plants occur when humans intervene.
4. How does the production of more offspring than will survive to play a role in natural selection?

Organisms produce more offspring than survive. This is since all organisms cannot survive due to inadequate resources which they need to go around. Therefore they need to struggle to survive, and naturally, compete for their survival.
5. What is the significance of Archaeopteryx?
Archaeopteryx was long considered to be the start of the evolutionary tree of birds. Its significance is that it has helped in the definition of what it is like to be a bird, such as defining the genesis of features such as long, powerful  front limbs

6. How is it that a structure, as complex as an eye, can be produced by natural selection?

According to scientists, an eye formed due to having a depression around the light-sensitive spot, which created a  pit that made the vision sharper. This was caused by the necessity to have a  structure that helps in vision.
7. Why is it that religion and theories of evolution conflict?
There appears to be a conflict between science and religion, where the religious beliefs are different from what scientists believe in.  Western religions appear to have beliefs that appear to make empirical claims that seem to differ from the scientists.

8. What scientific evidence has been discovered since Darwin’s time that supports evolution by natural selection?

There have been more scientific pieces of evidence found since Darwin’s time. This includes the discovery of DNA and the process of genetic replication. Another discovery made has been the understanding of radioactive decay.
9. Name two groups of organisms that were described from the tree of life. Relate these groups to their position on the tree and to other closely related groups.

The first groups of organisms identified are Bacteria and Archaea. Which gradually evolved to form other beings. The second organisms identified are the many microscopic organisms creating animals, plants, and fungi.