AP Bio Midterm Key Terms Ch. 25

Question 1

analogy

Answer 1

Similarity between two species that is due to convergent evolution rather than to descent from a common ancestor with the same trait.

Question 2

binomial

Answer 2

The two-part latinized name of a species, consisting of genus and specific epithet.

Question 3

clade

Answer 3

A group of species that includes an ancestral species and all its descendants.

Question 4

cladistics

Answer 4

The analysis of the resemblances among clades, or groups of species that share a common ancestor.

Question 5

cladogram

Answer 5

A diagram depicting patterns of shared characteristics among taxa.

Question 6

class

Answer 6

In classification, the taxonomic category above order.

Question 7

domain

Answer 7

(1) A taxonomic category above the kingdom level. The three domains are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. (2) An independently folding part of a protein.

Question 8

family

Answer 8

In classification, the taxonomic category above genus.

Question 9

fossil record

Answer 9

The chronicle of evolution over millions of years of geologic time engraved in the order in which fossils appear in rock strata.

Question 10

genus

Answer 10

(plural, genera) A taxonomic category above the species level, designated by the first word of a species’ binomial Latin name.

Question 11

homology

Answer 11

Similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry.

Question 12

homoplasy

Answer 12

Similarity in characteristics resulting from a shared ancestry.

Question 13

in-group

Answer 13

In a cladistic study of evolutionary relationships among taxa of organisms, the group of taxa that is actually being analyzed.

Question 14

kingdom

Answer 14

A taxonomic category, the second broadest after domain.

Question 15

maximum likelihood

Answer 15

A principle that states that when considering multiple phylogenetic hypotheses, one should take into account the one that reflects the most likely sequence of evolutionary events, given certain rules about how DNA changes over time.

Question 16

maximum parsimony

Answer 16

A principle that states that when considering multiple explanations for an observation, one should first investigate the simplest explanation that is consistent with the facts.

Question 17

molecular clock

Answer 17

An evolutionary timing method based on the observation that at least some regions of genomes evolve at constant rates.

Question 18

molecular systematics

Answer 18

The comparison of nucleic acids or other molecules in different species to infer relatedness.

Question 19

monophyletic

Answer 19

Pertaining to a taxon derived from a single ancestral species that gave rise to no species in any other taxa.

Question 20

neutral theory

Answer 20

The hypothesis that much evolutionary change in genes and proteins has no effect on fitness and therefore is not influenced by Darwinian natural selection.

Question 21

order

Answer 21

In classification, the taxonomic category above family.

Question 22

orthologous genes

Answer 22

Homologous genes that are passed in a straight line from one generation to the text, but have ended up in different gene pools because of speciation.

Question 23

out-group

Answer 23

A species or group of species that is closely related to the group of species being studied, but clearly not as closely related as any study-group members are to each other.

Question 24

paralogous genes

Answer 24

Homologous genes that are found in the same genome due to gene duplication.

Question 25

paraphyletic

Answer 25

Pertaining to a taxon that excludes some members that share a common ancestor with members included in the taxon.

Question 26

phylogenetic tree

Answer 26

A branching diagram that represents a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships.

Question 27

phylogeny

Answer 27

The evolutionary history of a species or group of related species.

Question 28

phylogram

Answer 28

A phylogenetic tree in which the lengths of the branches reflect the number of genetic changes that have taken place in a particular DNA or RNA sequence in the various lineages.

Question 29

phylum

Answer 29

In classification, the taxonomic category above class.

Question 30

polyphyletic

Answer 30

Pertaining to a taxon whose members were derived from two or more ancestral forms not common to all members.

Question 31

shared derived character

Answer 31

An evolutionary novelty unique to a particular clade.

Question 32

shared primitive character

Answer 32

A character displayed in species outside a particular taxon.

Question 33

specific epithet

Answer 33

The second part of a binomial, referring to one species within a genus.

Question 34

systematics

Answer 34

The analytical study of the diversity and relationships of organisms, both present-day and extinct.

Question 35

taxon

Answer 35

(plural, taxa) The named taxonomic unit at any given level.

Question 36

taxonomy

Answer 36

A set of characteristics used to assess the similarities and differences between various species, leading to a classification scheme; the branch of biology concerned with naming and classifying the diverse forms of life.

Question 37

ultrametric tree

Answer 37

A phylogenetic tree in which the lengths of the branches reflect measurements of geologic time.