Evolution Flashcards
Evolution
When an organism changes over time
Common Ancestor
When two organisms share DNA with a common distant relative
Natural Selection
When organisms survive or don’t survive based off of natural events
Sexual Selection
When an organism’s family line continues or doesn’t based off of attractive traits. For example: color.
Artificial Selection
When organisms survive or don’t based off of artificial things. For example: plant hormones.
Fitness
How likely an organism is to survive.
Adaptation
When an organism mutates based off its habitat.
Homologous Structure
Same structure, different function. Shares a common ancestor.
Analogous Structure
Different structure, similar function. Doesn’t share a common ancestor.
Adaptive Radiation
When one population splits into many different species. This is also a type of divergent evolution.
Convergent Evolution
When two organisms are not closely related, have similar environments, and are analogous structures.
Divergent Evolution
When two organisms share a recent common ancestor, are homologous structure, have very different environments, a new species is formed.
Stabilizing Selection
Selection that favors intermediate forms over extreme phenotypes.
Directional Selection
Selection that favors rare phenotypes.
Disruptive Selection
Selection that favors both extreme phenotypes.
Trait
A distinguishing quality or characteristic.
Selection
A process that determines which organisms thrive in an environment.
Ancestor
An earlier animal or plant that others have evolved from.
Genetic Variation
The difference in DNA among individuals or populations of individuals.
Molecular
Similarities in DNA sequences and protein structure.
Embryological
Similarities between different species early in their development.
Morphology
Study of the form and structure of an organism.
Molecular homology
Similar molecule structures
