Evolution vocab Flashcards
What is the random change that decreases the frequency of alleles or genes of a small population overtime
Genetic Drift
What is the movement of genes in and out of a population
Gene flow
When the probability of two organisms mating is not the same
Non-Random Mating
What is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism?
Mutations
Individuals that have traits that better suit their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Natural selection
What is it called when a gene pool isn’t changing frequencies through generations?
Genetic equilibrium
Equation(s) that can be used to calculate the genetic variation of a population at equilibrium
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
The evolution of two or more species from one ancestral species
Speciation
The principle that states that the changes in landforms result from slow changes over a long period of time
Gradualism
What is the theory describing an evolutionary change that occurs rapidly and in brief geological events
Punctuated equilibrium
What is the term meaning: Many new species diverge (split off) from a common ancestor
Adaptive radiation
Evolution of one or more closely related species into different species;resulted from adaptions to different environmental changes
Divergent evolutions
What is convergent evolution?
organisms not closely related independently develop similar characteristics because they live in similar environments
What is coevolution
When two or more species that live in close proximity change in response to each other
The termination of a kind of organism or a group
Extinction
What is Gradual extinction?
Animals slowly going extinct
When species vanish much faster than they are able to be replaced
Mass extinction
What is a gene pool?
The combination of all genes (alleles included) present in a reproducing population or species
What are species?
group of organisms that are closely related and can produce fertile offspring
species that live in the same area
Population
What does fitness mean?
a measure of an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment when compared to other organisms in the population.
Body part that is similar in structure on different organisms but performs different functions.
Homologous structures
different structure but same function, features that serve identical purposes and look like, but are not from a common ancestor
Analogous structures
What are vestigial organs?
rudimentary anatomical structures that are retained in a species despite having lost their primary ancestral function.
What is the study of embryo’s
Embryology
What is the exploration of chemical processes related to living organisms
Biochemistry
Science concerned with with fossil animals and plants
Paleontology
