Is a good theory parsimonious?
If a theory recapitulates its assumptions (if it is tautological), it is not an effective theory. Some theories suggest the ways in which further research may be conducted. The principle of parsimony (Occam’s razor) dictates that a theory should provide the simplest possible (viable) explanation for a phenomenon.
What must be true of any organ described as vestigial?
What must be true of any organ that is described as vestigial? It must be homologous to some feature in an ancestor. The upper forelimbs of humans and bats have fairly similar skeletal structures, whereas the corresponding bones in whales have very different shapes and proportions.
Which of the following is the best definition of evolution?
Terms in this set (10) Which of the following is the best definition of evolution? A genetic change in a population over time.
Which of the following is the best definition of natural selection?
Natural selection is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change. Individuals in a population are naturally variable, meaning that they are all different in some ways. Individuals with adaptive traits—traits that give them some advantage—are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Where did humans first evolve?
Africa
What factors are used to determine what constitutes a species?
According to the most widely used species definition, the biological species concept, a species is a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed, or mate, with one another to produce viable, fertile offspring. In this definition, members of the same species must have the potential to interbreed.
Why is it so important to be able to identify individual species?
An understanding of what species are and how to identify them is critical, both for biologists and for the general public. Biological diversity is being lost as species go extinct, and it is only by understanding species that we can shape the social, political, and financial forces that affect conservation efforts.