Chapter 10

Question 1

Natural Selection

Answer 1

the differential survival and reproduction of individuals in a population

Question 2

Populations

Answer 2

process by which populations adapt to varying environments

Question 3

Microevolution

Answer 3

• changes that occur within a species and the characteristics of a population
• easily observed, relatively non-controversial

Question 4

Macroevolution

Answer 4

• changes that occur, as a result of microevolution, over long periods of time and result in the origin of new species
• controversial among non-biologists

Question 5

Theory of Evolution

Answer 5

all species present on earth today are descendants of a single common ancestor, and all species represent the product of millions of years of accumulated evolutionary changes

Question 6

Biological Classification

Answer 6

implies common ancestry

Question 7

Anatomical Homology

Answer 7

• mammalian forelimbs have the same set of bones

- the underlying structure is similar despite the very different functions

Question 8

Vestigial Traits

Answer 8

traits that function in one organism, but are greatly reduced in others

Question 9

Molecular Clock

Answer 9

allows the use of DNA sequence differences between species to determine when they diverged from their common ancestor

Question 10

Biogeography

Answer 10

the distribution of species on earth

Question 11

Fossils

Answer 11

remains of living organisms left in soil or rock

Question 12

Fossilization

Answer 12

the formation of fossils

Question 13

Half-Life

Answer 13

the rate of decay is measured through the element’s of half-life