Chapter 8: Developing a Theory of Evolution

Question 1

palaeontology

Answer 1

the study of ancient life through the examination of fossils

Question 2

catastrophism

Answer 2

the idea that catastrophes such as floods, diseases, and droughts periodically destroyed living species living in a particular region, allowing species from neighbouring regions to repopulate that area

Question 3

uniformitarianism

Answer 3

Charles Lyell’s theory (based on Hutton’s theory) that geological processes operated at the same rates in the past as they do today

Question 4

inheritance of acquired characteristics

Answer 4

the idea that characteristics acquired during and organism’s lifetime can be passed on to its offspring

Question 5

theory of evolution by naturaal selection

Answer 5

a theory explaining how life has changed, and continues to change, during Earth’s history

Question 6

evolution

Answer 6

the processes of genetic change in a population over time

Question 7

survival of the fittest

Answer 7

the idea that the organisms that are the fittest leave the most offspring, so those organisms win the struggle for survival; phrase coined by John Spencer

Question 8

descent with modification

Answer 8

Darwin’s theory that natural selection does not demonstrate progress, but merely results from a species’ ability to survive local conditions at a specific time

Question 9

fossil record

Answer 9

the remains and traces from past life that are found in sedimentary rock; it reveals the history of life on earth and the kinds of organisms that were alive in the past

Question 10

transitional fossil

Answer 10

a fossil that shows intermediary links between groups of organisms and shares characteristics common to two now separate groups

Question 11

vestigial structure

Answer 11

a structure that is a reduced version of a structure that was functional in the organism’s ancestors

Question 12

biogeography

Answer 12

the study of the past and present geographical distribution of species populations

Question 13

homologous structures

Answer 13

structures that have similar structural elements and origin but may have a different function

Question 14

analogous structures

Answer 14

structures of organisms that do not have a common evolutionary origin but preform similar functions

Question 15

embryology

Answer 15

the study of early, pre-birth stages of an organism’s development