chapters 15,17 vocab Flashcards
artificial selection
selection by humans for breeding or useful treats from the natural variation among different organisms
adaptive radiation
process by which a single species or group of species evolves into several different forms that live in different ways
adaptation
inherited characteristic that increases and organisms chance of survival
common descent
principle that all living things have a common ancestor
convergent evolution
process by which unrelated organisms independently of all similarities when adapting to similar environments
Evolution
change in a kind of organisms overtime
extinct
species that is died out
fitness
ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment
fossil
preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism
fossil record
information about past life including the structure of organisms what they ate what it done and what environment they live in the order in which they lived
geologic timescale
scale used by paleontologist to wrap presents evolutionary time
mass extinction
then in which many types of living things become extinct at the same time
natural selection
process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and produce more successfully
natural variation
differences among individuals are species
paleontologist
scientist who studies fossils
