Chapter 7 study guide Flashcards
a group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring
species
the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past
fossil
a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment
adaptation
the gradual change in a species over time
evolution
a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations
scientific theory
when individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species
natural selection
a difference between individuals of the same species
variation
the comparison of the structures of different organisms
comparative anatomy
similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor
homologous structures
a hollow area in sediment in the shape of an organism or part of an organism
mold
a solid copy of the shape of an organism
cast
fossils in which minerals replace all or part of an organism
petrified fossil
provide evidence or the activities of ancient organism
trace fossil
scientists who study fossils
paleontologist
a hypothesis that proposes that evolution occurs slowly but steadily
gradualism
a hypothesis that proposes that species evolve quickly during relatively short periods
punctuated equilibria
the specific environment that provides the things the organism need to liv,e grow, and reproduce.
habitat
when no members of that species are still alive
extinct
the process of grouping things based on their similarities
classification
the scientific study of how living things are classified
taxonomy
a two part naming system
binomial nomenclature
a classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms
genus
organisms whose cells lack a nucleus
prokaryote
organisms cells that contain nuclei
eukaryote
a chart that shows probable evolutionary relationships among organisms
branching tree diagram
usually a homologous structure, such as a backbone, that is shared by all organisms in a group
shared derived characteristic
