Evolution Flashcards
Mutation
A random gene change causing a difference from the rest of the species
Adaptation
A genetic trait that increases chance of survival
Ex. Beaks of birds in Beaks of finches lab
Species
A group of similar individuals that can reproduce together
Squirrels, Birds, any name of organisms
Evolution
The process of organisms evolving into what they are today
Moth lab, the change in the frequency of genes over time
Extinct
When a species/population has no more living organisms
Dinosaurs
Fossil
The bones of an extinct species found in the ground after many many years showing evidence of how the species lived
Ex. Dinosaur fossils
Homologous structures
When two organisms have the same bone structure
Ex. Human arm and cat leg
Vestigial structures
Structures in an organism that have been lost from the organism because of their environment
Ex. Cave fish have no eyes because they can’t see in caves anyway, but are very similar to minnows otherwise
Natural selection
“Survival of the fittest” where organisms with the best genes survive their environment
Variation
The differences in the gene structure between organisms
Population
Group of species inhabiting an area
Ex. Some fish live in one area, others live in another
Population
Group of the same species living in an area
Ex. American humans
