Evolution Flashcards
Absolute dating
Method of measuring rates of decay of radioactive materials to determine how long ago and event occurred in an organisms life
Radioactive elements
Breakdown or decay into non-radioactive elements at a very steady rate
Half life
The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a
sample to decay
How old is the earth approximately
4.5 billion years
Fossil
Preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism
Fossil record
A collection of fossils that represents the preserve collective history of the earths organisms
what looked so similar in many organisms that made it difficult to tell them apart in the early stages of development
Embryos all looked alike
Homologous structures
Same internal structure but a different outside structure
Analogous structures
External structure is similar but internal is different
Vestigial organs
Structures that serve no useful purpose or function in an organism
Which 2-3 chemical compounds are found in all living organisms
DNA and/or RNA, and ATP
Which five things/people had the biggest influences on Darwin
- HMS Beagle
- lyle
- farmers
- maltus
- lamark
Evolution
The process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms
Evolutionary theory
A collection of carefully reasoned and tested hypothesis’ about how evolutionary change occurred
Fitness
Combination of physical appearance and behavior that helps organism survive and reproduce in their environment
Adaptation
Process that enables an organism to become better suited to their environment
Natural selection
Process in nature that results in the fit organisms producing offspring
Survival of the fittest
Individuals with characteristics best suited to their environment survive the struggle for existence other individuals lacking the characteristic best suited to their environment die or leave fewer offspring
Gene
A segment of DNA that codes for a particular protein
Species
A group of similar organisms that can breed with one another to produce fertile offspring in the natural environment
Niche
A combination of organisms habitat and it’s role in the habitat
Reproductive isolation
Separation of populations so that they do not interbreed to produce fertile offspring’s
Autotroph
Able to produce their own energy
Heterotroph
Could not rely on themselves to make their own energy
Convergent evolution
Process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities and adapting to similar environments
Relative dating
Technique used to determine the age of fossils by comparing them with other fossils in different layers of rock
