Terms : Hide Images
| change over time; process by which modern organisms descended from ancient organisms | ||
| well-tested, well-supported explanation that unifies a broad range of observations | ||
| preserved remains of an ancient organism | ||
| differences among individuals of a species; results from mutation and sexual reproduction | ||
| competition between organisms for food and space | ||
| ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment | ||
| inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival | ||
| individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; natural selection | ||
| individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; survival of the fittest | ||
| principle that all living things have a common ancestor | ||
| structures that have different mature forms but develop from the same embryonic tissues | ||
| organ so reduced in size, it does not serve an important function; may be homologous to structures in other organisms | ||
| combined genetic information of of all the members of a population | ||
| how often a form of a gene appears in a gene pool | ||
| two organisms that are so similar they can interbreed in nature and produce fertile offspring | ||
| formation of a new species as a result of reproductive isolation | ||
| separation of species that prevents them from interbreeding and producing fertile offspring | ||
| type of reproductive isolation in which two organisms have different mating rituals that prevent them from interbreeding | ||
| type of reproductive isolation in which two populations are separated by geographic barries like mountains or bodies of water | ||
| type of reproductive isolation in which two organisms reproduce at different times | ||
| variety of organisms that exist in the biosphere | ||
| classification of organisms | ||
| two part scientfic name for an organism; its genus is listed first, followed by its species | ||
| first part of an organism's scientific name | ||
| second largest taxonomic group; there are six - animalia, plantae, protista, eubacteria, archaebacteria, fungi | ||
| most inclusive taxonomic group, larger than kingdom; three exist - bacteria, archaea, eukaryota | ||
| a single celled plant or animal, ex. amoeba, paramecia, euglena | ||
| model that uses DNA comparisons to estimate how long two organisms evolved from a common ancestor | ||
| diagram showing evolutionary relationships of organisms with a common ancestor; resembles a tree | ||
| diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among organisms based on derived characters; resembles a timeline | ||
| pattern of evolution in which two species become more and more dissimilar | ||
| kingdom of heterotrophs that obtain nutrients through absorption, ex. mushrooms, yeasts | ||
| domain of organisms that contain nuclei, includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists |
