Chapter 22: Evolution Flashcards
Homologous Structures
Structures in different species that are similar because of a common ancestor
Adaptation
an inherited characteristic of an organism that enhances its chances of survival and reproduction
Vestigal Structure
Structure that is a historical remnant that currently serves little to no purpose in the current organism
Biogeography
scientific study of past and present geographic distribution of species
Fossil
A preserved remnant or impression of an organism that lived in the past
Natural Selection
the unequal survival and reproduction of individuals with different traits in a population
Artificial Selection
the selective breeding of domesticated plants and animals in order to get the desired traits
Analogous
having characteristics that are similar due to convergent evolution, not homology
Convergent Evolution
the evolution of similar features in independent evolutionary linegaes
homology
similarity in characteristics due to a shared common ancestor
Theory
An explanation that is broader in scope than a hypothesis, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence
Biosphere
sum of all the planets ecosystems
hypothesis
a testable and falsifiable explanation made by inductive reasoning that is narrow in scope
gene
a discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA or RNA
proteom
the entire set of proteins expressed by a given cell, tissue or organism
community
all the organisms that inhabit a particular area, a combination of populations of different species
inductive reasoning
a type of reasoning in which generalizations are based on a large number of specific observations
ecosystem
All the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; one or more communities and the physical environment around them
gene expression
The process by which information encoded in DNA directs the synthesis of proteins or, in some cases, RNAs that are not translated into proteins and instead function as RNAs.
emergent properites
New properties that arise with each step upward in the hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases.
deductive reasoning
a type of logic in which specific results are predicted from a general premise
