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Unit XII Evolution Flashcards

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2696701186adaptationan inherited trait that increases an organism's chance of survival in a particular environment0
2696701187analogywhen two structures have a similar function but converged from a different ancestor1
2696701188coevolutionthe mutual evolution of 2 different species interacting with each other2
2696701189speciationthe formation of a new species3
2696701190evolutionall the changes that have formed life on Earth from its earliest beginnings to the diversity that characterizes it today4
2696701191fossilsthe remains or traces of a once living organism5
2696701192molda type of fossil formed from an impression of the shape or tracks of an organism6
2696701193casta type of fossil formed when sediments fill in the cavity left by a decomposing organism7
2696701194genetic equilibriumCondition in which the frequency of alleles in a population remains the same over generations.8
2696701195microevolutionChange in allele frequencies in a population over generations.9
2696701196macroevolutionevolution on a scale of separated gene pools10
2696701197phylogenythe sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development11
2696701198theory of evolutionDarwin's theory that things evolve from other living things due to traits needed to survive in their environments. natural selection or "survival of the fittest"12
26967011995 components of evolution1. small population 2. not random mating but breeding 3. mutations 4. immigration and emigration 5. natural selection13
2696701200universal ancestorcommon ancestor14
2696701201DarwinEnglish natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)15
2696701202postzygotic isolating mechanismshybrid sterility hybrid inviability hybrid breakdown16
2696701203artificial selectionbreeding of organisms by humans for specific phenotypic characteristics17
2696701204gradualismmating that new species arise from the result of slight modifications (mutations and resulting phenotypic changes) over many generations.18
2696701205stabilizing selectiona type of natural selection in which the average (middle) form of a trait causes an organism to have an advantage in reproduction19
2696701206adaptive radiationan evolutionary pattern in which many species ev0lve from a single ancestral species20
2696701207eralargest category of time organization of the earth Cenozoic (recent life), Mesozonic (middle life), Palezonic (ancient life), Precambrain (first life)21
2696701208biogeographythe study of geographical distribution of fossils and living organisms22
2696701209embryologyThe branch of biology that deals with the formation, early growth, and development of living organisms... study of embryos23
2696701210extinctionthe dying out of a species24
2696701211founder effectGenetic drift that occurs when a few individuals become isolated from a larger population and form a new population whose gene pool composition is not reflective of that of the original population.25
2696701212homologywhen two structures diverged from a common ancestor but developed different functions and purposes26
2696701213natural selectionorganisms with favorable variations reproduce at higher rates than those without the variations27
2696701214population geneticsthe study of evolution from a genetic point of view28
2696701215convergent evolutionthe process by which unrelated species become more similar as they adapt to the same kind of environment... did not come from common ancestor29
2696701216prezygotic isolating mechanismsspatial (geographical) temporal (including seasonal) ecological (habitat) gamete mortality behavioral (ethological) structural (morphological)30
2696701217allele frequencythe percentage of an allele in a gene pool31
2696701218disruptive selectiontype of natural selection; individuals on both extremes are fittest while middle are less fit32
2696701219Lamarckmade up Acquired Trait Theory (organisms change themselves then pass down to offspring)33
2696701220migrationmovement of individuals in and out of a population; changes allele frequency34
2696701221perioderas are broken up into35
2696701222variationdifferences in traits36
2696701223critical events in geologic historybacteria -> multi-cellular -> fish -> amphibeans -> reptiles -> land plants -> dinosaurs -> mammals -> humans37
2696701224bottleneck effectpopulation greatly reduced by a catastrophic event; leads to genetic drift38
2696701225directional selectionone extreme of trait is favored39
2696701226divergent evolutionspecies with a common ancestor become more and more different40
2696701227epochperiods are broken up into41
2696701228punctuated equilibriumspeciation occurs in brief periods of natural change42
2696701229fitnessability of a species to survive and pass on their traits to offspring43
2696701230genetic driftA change in the gene pool of a population due to chance44
2696701231phenotype frequencythe number of phenotypes in a population45
2696701232relative positioninglaw of superposition (rock untop of each other - top ones younger than bottom ones)46
2696701233vestigialfunctionless structure that had function in ancestors47
2696701234morphologystudy of the function and structure of animals and plants48

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