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Biology 3/4 > Chapter 10 - How we are related > Flashcards

Chapter 10 - How we are related Flashcards

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1
Q

Fossil record

A

The information derived from fossils. The fossil record is arranged in chronological order and helps us map the history of life on Earth, placing species in the appropriate geologic time frame.

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2
Q

Cambrian explosion

A

a period (–535 mya) of rapid diversification of multicellular life, characterised by evolution of hardened body parts such as shells or bones.

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3
Q

Fossil

A

The preserved body, impressions, or traces of a dead organism

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4
Q

Fossilisation

A

The Process by which an organism becomes a fossil

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5
Q

Sediment

A

Naturally occurring solid material, such as earth and rock, that is broken down into very fine pieces and typically settles at the bottom of liquid.

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6
Q

Sedimentary rock

A

Rock that has formed through the accumulation of sediment that hardens under pressure

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7
Q

Permineralised fossil

A

Fossil formed when mineral-rich groundwater deposits minerals like silica and calcite into organic material, creating a mineral relic.

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8
Q

Mould Fossil

A

Fossil formed when a living thing decomposes underneath sediment, crating a cavity in the shape of the dead organism.

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9
Q

Cast Fossil

A

Fossil formed when a mould fossil is filled with sediment.

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10
Q

Trace fossil

A

Fossil or structure indicating the presence of organisms, rather than the organisms themselves (e.g. nests, footprints, and burrows)

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11
Q

Relative dating

A

a dating technique used to determine the relative age of a fossil by comparing its position to other fossils or rock in surrounding rock strata (layers).

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12
Q

Absolute dating

A

a dating technique used to determine the absolute age of a fossil by measuring the relative amounts of radioisotopes to their products. Also known as radiometric dating

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13
Q

Fossil Succession

A

The principle that fossils of the same age will be in the same layer of sedimentary rock, and fossils found in a higher or lower sedimentary layer will be younger or older, respectively. Also known as faunal succession.

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14
Q

Relative age

A

The age of a fossil as determined by relative dating techniques. Describes the age of a fossil compared to other fossils, instead of a fossils’s exact age in years.

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15
Q

Stratum (pl. strata)

A

a layer of sedimentary rock

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16
Q

index fossil

A

a group of widespread fossils which existed for a short period and have a known age. Can be used as a reference to easily determine the age of unknown fossils.

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17
Q

Transitional fossil

A

a fossil that shows traits that are common to both its ancestral group and its descendant group. They are particularly important when the descendant species is physically very distinct from the ancestral species, such that the transitional fossil can help demonstrate evolutionary changes between the two.

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18
Q

absolute age

A

an estimate of the age (in years) of a fossil or rock

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19
Q

radioactive isotope

A

a radioactive atom of a specific element. This atom breaks down into a predictable and stable product. Also known as a radioisotope.

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20
Q

half-life

A

the time taken for half the mass of a radioisotope sample to break down into its products.

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21
Q

dating period

A

the range of time since fossilisation in which a particular radioisotope series can be used. Beyond this period, most of the radioisotope will have broken down into its products, meaning that it is too difficult to estimate the fossil’s age.

22
Q

radiocarbon dating

A

a form of absolute dating used to determine the age of a fossil by measuring the properties of radiocarbon, a radioactive isotope of carbon. Also known as carbon dating and radioactive carbon dating.

23
Q

structural morphology

A

the study of physical structures to establish relatedness

24
Q

homologous structures

A

features present in two or more species that may look and function very differently in each species, but are derived from a common ancestor

25
Q

divergent evolution

A

the process in which a common ancestor evolves into two or more descendant species

26
Q

analogous structures

A

features present in two or more species that fulfil the same function but do not originate from a common ancestor

27
Q

convergent evolution

A

the process in which distantly related species evolve similar traits over time due to the action of similar selection pressures.

28
Q

vestigial structures

A

features that have lost all or most of their usefulness as a result of evolution by natural selection.

29
Q

molecular homology

A

the study of the similarities in the nucleotide sequences of DNA or amino acid sequences in proteins between organisms to establish relatedness

30
Q

Conserved genes

A

genes that have remained largely unchanged throughout evolution, and are found across the genome’s of many different species

31
Q

haemoglobin (Hb)

A

a protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body.

32
Q

cytochrome c

A

an enzyme found in mitochondria that carries electrons in aerobic and anaerobic respiration reactions

33
Q

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

A

circular DNA found in mitochondria

34
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

a double-stranded nucleic acid change made up of nucleotides. DNA carries the instructions for proteins which are required for cell and organism survival

35
Q

Nucleotide

A

the monomer subunit of nucleic acids. Made up of a nitrogen-containing base, a five-carbon sugar molecule (ribose in RNA and deoxyribose in DNA), and a phosphate group.

36
Q

genome

A

the complete set of DNA housed within an organism

37
Q

Nuclear DNA

A

DNA that is located in the nucleus of a cell

38
Q

Phylogenetics

A

the study of relatedness between organisms

39
Q

phylogenetic tree

A

a diagram used to show the relatedness between organisms

40
Q

evolutionary relationship

A

the relatedness of organisms based on shared ancestry

41
Q

lineage

A

a direct sequence of species that evolved from a common ancestor

42
Q

taxon (pl. taxa)

A

a unit of biological classification into which related organisms are classified. Taxa are arranged in a hierarchical rank from kingdom down to species, where members of a specific taxon typically share certain morphological characteristics.

43
Q

root

A

represents the most recent common ancestor for all members of a phylogenetic tree

44
Q

branch

A

a line on a phylogenetic tree that represents an evolutionary path

45
Q

node

A

the splitting point between two branches on a phylogenetic tree, representing a speciation event

46
Q

leaf

A

the end of a branch that shows the current (or final) form of a species

47
Q

adaptive radiation

A

the rapid divergent evolution of a species, thereby producing a wide array of species/forms

48
Q

Punctuated equilibrium

A

A theory in evolutionary biology that proposes that after a period of rapid evolution following a speciation event, a species becomes stable for a long period of time.

49
Q

Polyhyly

A

A grouping of similiar organisms that do not share a common ancestor (with those similarities)

50
Q

Homoplasy

A

An analogous structure; a feature found in two unrelated species, having evolved independently in each due to similiar selection pressures.

Biology 3/4 (11 decks)

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