Chapter 7-8 Vocab

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that are closely related and mate to produce offspring

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

The process where inherited characteristics in a population change over time where new species sometimes arise

Question 3

Fossil

Answer 3

The trace of reminds of an organism from long ago preserved in rock

Question 4

Fossil record

Answer 4

A historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in layers of earths crust

Question 5

Trait

Answer 5

A genetically determined characteristic

Question 6

Selective breeding

Answer 6

The human practice of breeding animals or plants with certain traits

Question 7

Natural selection

Answer 7

The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment be more successful than less adapted animals do

Question 8

Generation time

Answer 8

The period between the birth of one generation and the birth of the next generation

Question 9

Speciation

Answer 9

The formation of new species as a result of evolution

Question 10

Adaptation

Answer 10

A characteristic that improves an individual’s ability to survive in an environment

Question 11

Relative dating

Answer 11

A method determining whether an event is older or younger than other events

Question 12

Absolute dating

Answer 12

Any method of measuring the age of an object or event in years

Question 13

Geologic time scale

Answer 13

The standard method used to divide the earths long natural history into parts

Question 14

Extinct

Answer 14

A species that’s died out completely

Question 15

Plate tectonics

Answer 15

Theory of how earths tectonic plates move and change shape

Question 16

Precambrian time

Answer 16

The period in the geologic time scale from the beginning of the earth to the beginning of the Paleozoic era

Question 17

Paleozoic era

Answer 17

The era after Precambrian time

Question 18

Mesozoic era

Answer 18

The era from 251 million years ago to 65.5 million years ago

Question 19

Cenozoic era

Answer 19

The most recent geological era

Question 20

Primates

Answer 20

A type of mammal characterized by opposable thumbs and binocular vision

Question 21

Hominids

Answer 21

A type of primate characterized by bipedalism

Question 22

Homo sapiens

Answer 22

The species of hominids that includes modern humans and their closest ancestors