evolution test Flashcards
artificial selection
humans selecting organisms for breeding that have useful or desired traits
struggle for existence
members of species compete regularly for food, living space
adaptation
an inherited characteristic that increases an organisms chance of survival
fitness
the ability of an organisms to survive and reproduce in its specific envirnment
natural selection
individuals that are better suited to their environment, survive and reproduce most successful
evolution
a change in an organism over time
fossil
preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism
relative dating
determines the age of a fossil by comparing the different rock layers and placement
radioactive dating
calculating the age of a sample based on the remaining radioactive material
homologous structures
structures that have different forms but develop from the same embryonic tissue
vestical organs
organs that serve no useful function
gene pool
all the genes (including alleles) in a population capable of interbreed
relative frequency
the number of times an allele occurs within a gene pool
polygenic trait
controlled by more than one set of alleles
directional selection
one end have higher fitness than the ones in the middle
stabalizing
center has the highest fitness
disruptive
both upper and lower ends have higher fitness than center
genetic drift
random change in allele frequency
genetic equilibrium
when allele frequencies do not change, evolution doesn’t occur
speciation
changes that lead to the formation of a new species
reproductive isolation
when new species evolve, differences in reproduction
behavioral isolation
differences in courtship and reproductive strategies involving behavior
geographical isolation
seperation by geographical barriers
temporal iso
species may reproduce at different times
convergent evolution
unrelated organisms evolve independently to resemble one another because they are in the same habitat
coevolution
2 organisms which depend on each other, changes because of changes in another
