Biological Themes: Adaptation And Evolution

But first, it will be helpful to define more terms that will be used in this chapter and elsewhere in this book.

Write brief descriptions for each of the terms below. If you use an outside source to define them, include the citation for the source.

Define the following terms. Your definitions must be in your own words; do not copy them from the textbook.

In developing your answers to Part III, be sure to keep these general definitions in mind:

Homeostasis means keeping a constant internal environment in the body. Homeostasis reaches from every cell up to the whole of the organs and the systems.

Homeostasis is the process of maintaining a fairly constant interval environment. Homeostatic mechanisms help us to be independent of our external environment. It helps us regulate our body temperature, pH, concentration of dissolved substance in the body fluids, concentration of glucose in blood, concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and body fluids, blood pressure and concentration of metabolic wastes. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive and adapt to our environment.

Choose five of the following terms and define. Each answer should not be longer than four lines (approx. 60 words):

1.1.1 Before starting this chapter it might be useful for you to write out your definition of

Atoms make up molecules, which make up cells. Cells are the base of everything that is living. Cells make up tissues, when a group of cells are similar in their structure they group together and make up the tissues. When two or more tissue types combine, it creates an organ that has a specific functionality for the

According to Dr. James Krupa of The University of Kentucky “evolution is the foundation upon which all biology rests.” In biology, evolution is the genetic change in characteristics over generations and is dependent on the process of natural selection. ‘The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually change over time’ (Genome Campus, 2017). Genetic variation is vital to evolution as it affects the physical characteristics or phenotypes of morphology. Natural Selection is affected by environmental factors that act upon a population and result in the mutation of organism through offspring. These mutations enable individuals to adapt to their environments in order to survive, find food, avoid predators and

All systems must have homeostasis to maintain stability and to survive. Homeostasis is so important because it can allow an animal to adapt to a changing environment. The body attempts to maintain a constant level of physical output to achieve homeostasis. However, it can only work within its limits, where extreme conditions can disable the negative feedback mechanism.

Adaptationism is the belief that the traits seen in organisms are the results of evolution by natural selection. There are different forms of adaptationism and many different definitions as to what an adaptation is, with some believing it is impossible to test a hypothesis about an adaptation at all. This essay will look at a) how to define adaptation b) different forms of adaptationism and c) consider the different methods of testing whether a phenotype is an adaptation.

To begin some definitions need to be established for the paper, so the reader can logically follow.

Homeostasis is what physiological systems in our bodies do in order to maintain a stable internal environment. Stability is held together by the coordinated responses of the components involved to any stress or unfamiliar situation that the human body is put under that could disrupt its normal functioning conditions. Homeostasis must be maintained constantly in order for our bodies to be able to function properly and not under stress which could have major effects later on in life.

First I would like to start out with clarifying the different kinds of homeostasis in greater detail.