Exam 1 Flashcards
Why should “Dinosaur” not be used as a synonym for “outdated”, “incompetent”, or “failure”?
It should not be used as a synonym for that because the dinosaurs were not a failure and ruled the world much longer than we have as the most successful terrestrial vertebrae.
A scientific theory is:
a hypothesis that has withstood rigorous testing
Which of these natural processes can fossils of dinosaurs help us understand?
evolution, population size decreases, extinction, speciation (origin of new species)
The Principle of Inclusions states that:
The rock fragments that are in the larger rocks are older than what they are inclosed in
A crystal:
is a substance comprised of atoms arranged into a solid geometrical structure
Earth’s continents have moved over time, and they are still moving right now.
true
Approximately what percentage of living organisms make it into the fossil record?
0.0001%
If you were to ask a scientist to define evolution, he would say:
it is change in population gene frequencies over generations
The anatomical direction opposite “medial” is:
lateral
The spines labeled with arrows on the dinosaur to the right are on which side of its body?
dorsal
what are the three keys to science?
observable, repeatable, falsifiable
informal term for a theory so supported we consider is Fact
law
what were the first dinosaurs?
eoraptor, herrerasaurus
what skeletal diagnosis distinguish a dinosaur
3 or more sacral vertebrae, shoulder joint faces posterior, open hip socket, and femur with ball shaped head
How many hole opening does Synapsids have?
one opening in side
How many hole opening does Anapsids have?
zero openings behind the orbit
How many hole opening does Diapsids have?
two openings behind the eye
Why does all life have left handed amino acids?
We all have the same ancenstor, “The Grand Homology”
a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid
Mineral
An aggregate of one ore more minerals
Rock
formed by cooling molten rock
Ingneous Rock
formed by deposition and cementation of sediment
Sedimentary Rock
searching for fossils eroding out of rock outcrops
Prospecting - prospect for gold
excavating fossils out of the ground (that were found by prospecting)
Quarrying
formed by recrystallization of a rock by high heat and/or pressure
Metamorphic rocks
disaggregation or disintegration of rocks
Physical Weathering
What are some weathering agents?
- rain & wind
- flowing water
- waves
- crystal growth
- Ice
- plant roots
encasing fossils in plaster casts for transport home
jacketing
What are the five principles of geology?
Original Horizontality, Superposition, original lateral Continuity, inclusions, cross cutting relationships
what is Principle of Superposition
In undisturbed sequences, the oldest layer is always at the bottom, and successively younger layer are successively higher
what is principle of inclusions
rock fragments within larger rocks are older than the rock masses in which they are inclosed, dinosaur fossils
what is Principle of cross cutting relationships
Any geologic features that cross-cuts another is younger than the one it is penetrating/cutting across
what are the five stages of decay?
1.) Fresh
2) Bloat
3.) Active Decay
4.) Advanced Decay
5.) Dry/Remains
what is the New Jersey state dinosaur?
Hadrosaurus Foulkii
What factors have a higher preservation potential?
1.) organisms with hard parts
2.) smaller organisms (usually…)
3.) more abundant species
4.) species living in low elevation environments
bones arranged in life position
Articulation
bones separated from life position
Disarticulation
sometimes see evidence of past life but it’s not actually part of the organism
trace fossil
what are some evidence of biologic interactions
surface modification
- bite marks
- gut contents
- coprolites (fossil feces)
- pathologies
- lesions
- tumors
before darwin, what was the common belief?
fixity of species
what is fixity of species?
-species were created in their present form
- extinction was though impossible
- fossils were though to have been created directly in rock
what kind of evolution was thought that all structures in organisms arise because of a need, or an “inner want” of the organism
Lamarckain Evolution
where is the source of variation come from?
genetic mutations
1.) Base substitutions
2.) Gene deletions
3.) Gene duplications
how does natural selection happen?
Random, Purposeless Variation is acted on by Non-Random
What is Evolution?
Change in population gene frequencies over many generations
what is directional selection?
species changing all at once towards one direction
what is divergent selection?
two different species diverge from one
what is stabilizing selection?
no further evolution is needed, the species stays the same, sharks
what is sexual selection?
occurs in dimorphic species, repopulation is based on what they look like
What is a species?
potentially interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from other groups
what is the orientation at the top of the anatomy?
Dorsal
what is the orientation at the bottom of the anatomy?
Ventral
what is the orientation facing forward towards the head?
antierior
what is the orientation facing backwards towards the tail?
posttierior
what is the orientation facing a skull to the right
left lateral
what is the orientation facing a skull to the left
right lateral
