76-86 Flashcards
Gamete
The term for sex cell egg or sperm
Fertilization
The joining of male and female reproductive cells
Biological evolution
The descent with modification of organisms from common ancestors
Natural selection
The process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully (survival of the fittest)
Adaptations
The inherited traits that increase and organisms chance of survival
Behavioral adaptations
A type of adaption that affects the behavior of an animal
Physiological adaptation
A type of adaptation that affects the function of an organism
Morphological adaptations
A type of adaption that affects the structure of an organism
Fossil
The preserved remains of ancient organisms
Fossil record
A collection of preserved organisms or their traces stored in earth
Radioactive dating
The method of calculating the absolute ages of rocks and minerals that contain radioactive isotopes
