Biology Flashcards
What is speciation
Formation of a new species
What is a species
Organisms with similar characteristics that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring
Lamarcks theory
Over their lifetime organisms can acquire characteristics and pass these new characteristics to their offspring
Darwins theory
Survival of the fittest- only the animals with the characteristics that enable them to survive in their environment can pass on their genes to the next generation
Natural selection
Process by which favoured characteristics increase the likelihood of survival in the presence of certain selection pressures
Evidence of evolution
Fossils, anatomical similarities, embryology, biogeography, genetic relatedness
What is the study of fossils called
Palaeontology
Living fossils
From specifies that are still alive today, but their fossils have remained relatively unchanged over time
Relative dating
Estimates age of fossil by layer of earth it is in and using other fossils also in that layer
Absolute dating
Estimates age of fossil by comparing the ratio of radioactive isotopes to other isotopes e.g. Carbon 14, the less carbon 14 the older it is
Biogeography
Process of studying geographical distribution of fossils, and living species
Continental drift
Moving of tectonic plates and distribution of fossils, animals, and geological substances
Homologous structures
Similar structures found in different organisms that indicate a common ancestor
Vestigial structure
May be similar to functioning structures in other species and can indicate a common ancestor
Comparative embryology
Comparing embryos at different stages and similarities indicate a common ancestor
