Evolution Flashcards
What is Biological Evolution?
> Any Genetic change in a population that is inherited over several generations.
What is Macro-evolution?
> Large changes in many species that take place over a long period of time.
What is Micro-evolution?
> Small changes that take place within a species to adapt to survive.
What is a Fossil?
> The imprint, traces or preserved remains of an organism that once lived. A fossil may be plant, animal body parts or impressions in rocks.
What is a Transitional Fossil?
> Fossil having characteristics of species that arose before it as well as species that arose after it.
What is Biodiversity?
> The Variety of different plant and animal species found on earth where diversity is the result of change over time.
What is Natural Selection?
> The process of change over time, that takes place in species.
What is a Species?
> A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
What is a Population?
> A group of organisms of the same species, but must be living in the same place at the same time.
What is Continuous Variation?
> The Variation of a trait in a population, where the trait ranges continuously from one extreme to another preventing the subdivision into distinct classes.
What is Discontinuous Variation?
> The Variation of a trait in a population that can be ascribed two or more districts forms.
What is Artificial Selection?
> The Selective breeding of plants and animals where specific traits are modified, to satisfy human needs.
What is Speciation?
> The Evolutionary process by which new biological species arise, due to the splitting of the lineage.
What are the Two Laws Lamarck came up with for Evolution?
> The Law of Use and Disuses
The Law of Inheritance of modified/acquired characteristics.
What is Bipedalism?
> The ability to walk on two feet.
What factor determines if an animal is Bipedal or Not?
> The position of the Foraman Magnum.
More forward=Bipedal
More Backward=Non-Bipedal
What are some of the Similarities between Apes & Humans?
> Opposable Thumbs
No external tail
Bare fingertips
Binocular vision
Colour Vision
Males are Larger than Females
What are the Characteristics that are used to distinguish between the Fossils of the Human Evolutionary Trend?
> Brain Size
Postition of the Foramen Magnum
Prognathous Jaw
Dentition (Size of the Canines)
Development of Brow ridges
What is the Out-of-Africa Hypothesis?
> Modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other continents.
What Genetic evidence is used to support the Out-of-Africa Hypothesis?
> Mitochondrial DNA
How is Fossil Evidence used to support the Out-of-Africa Hypothesis?
> Fossils of Ardipithecus were found in Africa only
> Fossils of Australopithecus were found in Africa only
> Fossils of Homo habilis were found in Africa only
> The oldest fossils of Homo erectus were found in Africa
> The oldest fossils of Homo sapiens were found in Africa
What is Punctuated Equilibrium?
> Evolution characterized by long periods of little or no change followed by short periods of rapid change.
