Evolution Flashcards
What is evolution?
the process by which organisms have changed over time
Who created the Theory of Evolution?
Charles Darwin
What did James Hutton propose?
Earth has been slowly shaped by geological processes (done over long periods of time)
What did Jean Baptiste de Lamarck propose?
- Use and disuse
- Inheritance of acquired traits
- Tendency towards perfection
What are transitional fossils?
fossils that show intermediate stages in the evolution of modern species
What percent of all organisms that have ever walked on Earth are extinct?
99%
What are homologous body structures?
Different but elated species with similar structures but different purposes (I.e. bat wing and human arm)
What are analogous body structures?
Different, non-related species with different structures that serve the same purpose (I.e. bat wing and butterfly wing)
What is biogeography?
the study of where organisms live now and where their ancestors lived in the past
What is convergent evolution?
species living on DIFFERENT continents each descended from different ancestors, but living under similar ecological conditions (I.e. sugar gliders and flying squirrels)
What is divergent evolution?
2 or more related species or populations become more and more dissimilar overtime (I.e. capybara and beaver)
What is speciation?
the formation of a new species
What is a species?
a group of organisms that breed with one another and produce fertile offspring
What is geographical isolation?
Isolation caused when two populations are separated by geographic barriers such as rivers or mountains
What is temporal isolation?
Isolation that occurs when two or more species reproduce at different times (I.e. flowers)
