Questions: Part 3

Chapter 8 - The Making and Evolution of Complexity
1. How did Darwin use evidence to explain the geological formation of reefs?  What was the conventional wisdom that he challenged with his idea?

2. Do the different eye forms (arthropod, squid, vertebrate) reflect convergent evolution or adaptive radiation? How does an understanding of the genes behind these structures make classifying the pattern of evolution challenging?

3. How does understanding development reveal the way complex structures are built?  Discuss specific examples.

4. Other than eye forms, what are some specific body/organ-building genes that are key to understanding the evolution of different forms?

Chapter 9 - Seeing and Believing
1. During the development of the germ theory of disease, what were the barriers faced by Pasteur, Lister and others?  How did they ultimately change the medical communities practices?

2. What was the philosophy of Lysenko and what was his impact on Soviet biology, agriculture, and medicine?

3. How does the opposition to vaccination by some chiropractors parallel Lysenko’s view of genetics and and DNA?

4. Carroll states “that the denial of evolution, like other instances of denial, is not about the science. It can’t be.  It is about ideology, in this case religious ideology.”  Discuss 2-3 denials raised in the book and how these are based on ideology rather than science.

Chapter 10 - The Palm Trees of Wyoming

1. Humans are now having a profound impact on the environment and, as a result, are shaping the evolution of species on the planet.  How has overfishing impacted other species such as kelp and sea turtles?

2. What is the “perfect storm” that has struck the Chesapeake Bay estuary?

3. Climate change coupled with other human activities have impacted ecosystems as well.  How has/will climate change contributed to the inability of krill populations to recover?  How may this impact other marine species?