Evolution Flashcards
any process of change through time
evolution
proposes that the simple forms of organisms gave rise to the present more complex forms of life
theory of organic evolution
term used to describe the variety of life found on Earth and all the natural processes
biodiversity
to develop and grow through a gradual process step by step
evolve
theory that modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms
evolution
two chimpanzee species in which humans are probably most closely related to
common chimpanzee, bonobo
refers to the diversity within a species; the greater it is, the higher is the chance of a long term survival
genetic diversity
diversity in the outwards appearance and behavior of individuals of the same species
phenotypic variation
the well known birds studied by Charles Darwin about evolution
Galapagos finches
species evolved along different paths from a common ancestor
divergence/ divergent evolution
this hierarchy of relationship produces a treelike pattern, which implies a process of splitting and divergence from a common ancestor
modern scheme of classification
the process or the state of adjusting or changing to become more suited to an environment; the trait as a result of the process
adaptation
the process or the state of adjusting or changing to become more suited to an environment; the trait as a result of the process
adaptation
allows organisms to hide from their predators by changing their colors in order to blend in
cryptic coloration
has demonstrated that adaptations arise through selection acting on genetic variation
evolutionary biology
the rapid diversification of one species into several different species
adaptive radiation
modification of an ancestral species or structure, which was adapted to a particular way of life, into many diverse species or kinds of structures, each adapted to a different habitat
adaptive radiation
walking leg
cursorial leg
jumping leg
saltatorial
digging leg
fossorial leg
swimming leg
natatorial
grasping leg
raptorial leg
found mineralized remains or impression of organisms which lived millions of years ago
fossils
estimated age of the earth
4.5 billion years
earliest bacterial fossils
3.5 billion years old
show a diverse assemblage of multicellular animals
fossils from the Cambrian period
results from changes overtime in the genetic constitution of species
biological evolution
it ensures that only the traits that help a species survive and reproduce get passed on to future generation
natural section
arises through two processes, mutation and recombination
genetic variation
occurs when DNA is imperfectly copied during replication, leading to a difference between a parent’s gene and that of its offspring
mutation
occurs when genes from two parents are recombined to produce an offspring
recombination
refers to random fluctuations in gene frequency and its effects are usually seen at the level of DNA
Genetic Drift
discovered the principle of natural selection
Charles Darwin
is the divergence of a distinct species from one ancestor and can no longer interbreed
speciation
the ultimate source of variation
mutation
individuals or gametes move from one population to another
gene flow
it does not alter allele frequency but changes the proportion of heterozygotes
nonrandom mating
most observed evidence of evolution
fossils
study of the distribution of plants and animals over Earth’s surface; living organisms arose in areas where similar forms once lived
biogeography
genetic evidence shows that the DNA profiles evolutionary relationships among species
DNA sequence
the study of similarities and differences in the structure of living organisms and can be used to determine evolutionary relatedness
comparative anatomy
similar structures in organisms with shared ancestry; derived from the same common ancestor but may not have the same function
homologous structures
similar structures in organisms without shared ancestry; evolved independently to serve the same purpose
analogous structures
occurs when different organisms adapt to the same environment
convergent evolution
organisms that are different in their mature stages show distinct similarities in their early patterns or early embryonic developmental stages
comparative embryology
organs that have no function
vestigial structures
