Week 2 : Selection in Action & SCL activities

On week 2, I learn about the topic of selection in action and SCL activities. The topic of selection in action, I learn about the concept and examples of natural and artificial selection where natural selection is a process in which individuals have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits. For example,
Finches evolved with different type of beak. Meanwhile, artificial selection is the selective breeding of domesticated plants & animals to encourage the occurrence of desireable traits. For example, Cat breeding. Cat breed to get a desireable traits.

SCL ACTIVITIES

Variation : Refers to an individual that possesses characteristics different from each other

Example include tortoise : Intermediate, doomed (in wet areas, lots of mosses) and sealed shell

Example include finches : Finches evolved to different size and type of beak.

Adaptation : Process of change by which an organism/species becomes better suited to its environment

Fossil evidence : Coral formation, volcanic island

               KEY TO INSIGHTS LED TO DARWIN'S THEORY

Artificial selection : The selective breeding of domestical plants & animals to encourage the occurance of desireable traits

Heretibility : Ability of traits to be inherited from one generation to one generation.

Struggle for survival : This fittest one who would survive

              4 MAIN PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL SELECTION
-Variation : Refers to an individual that possesses characteristics different from each other
-Overproduction : Ability of species to produce far more offspring than can possibly survive.
-Adaptation :
provides the basis for the population to adapt to environmental changes, such as the volcanic eruption on the island
-Descent with modification : Pass down adaptation from one generation to one generation

           MODERN SYNTHESIS OF EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

DNA sequence analysis
- process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within DNA molecules

Pseudogenes
- non functional sequence of genomic DNA originally derived from functional genes

Homeobox genes
- a large family of similar genes that direct the formation of many body structures during early embryonic development

Protein Comparisons
- different organisms have different protein sequence

I have been introduced to reflective journal on week 2 but I start it a bit late because of holidays and does not have internet connection at my village.