Exam #2 Key Terms

Question 1

differences between members of the same species

Answer 1

variation

Question 2

process by which humans have modified species over many generations by selecting and breeding individuals that possess desired traits.

Answer 2

artificial selection

Question 3

a process in which individuals with certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than others because of those traits.

Answer 3

natural selection

Question 4

idea that paring a white flower with a red flower would create a flower similar to both.

Answer 4

blending inheritance

Question 5

inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments

Answer 5

adaption

Question 6

group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interbreed, producing fertile offspring.

Answer 6

populations

Question 7

is the idea of natural selection

Answer 7

survival of the fittest

Question 8

changes over time in allele frequencies in a population

Answer 8

microevolution

Question 9

the broad pattern of evolution above the species level

Answer 9

macroevolution

Question 10

a conceptual bridge between microevolution and macroevolution and the process by which one species splits into two species.

Answer 10

speciation

Question 11

where a species is in a group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring– but do not produce viable, fertile offspring with members of other such groups.

Answer 11

biological species concept

Question 12

gene flow is interrupted when a population is divided into geographically isolated subpopulations

Answer 12

allopatric speciation

Question 13

occurs in populations that live in the same geographic area.

Answer 13

sympatric speciation

Question 14

describes the long periods of time where apparent stasis is punctuated by sudden change.

Answer 14

punctuated equilibrium

Question 15

the evolutionary of history of a species or group of species

Answer 15

phylogeny

Question 16

the way of naming a species with two names introduced by carolus linnaeus.

Answer 16

binomial nomenclature

Question 17

trait or feature of lineage or taxon that is inherited from the common ancestor of a clade and has undergone little change

Answer 17

primitive characters

Question 18

second part of the binomial name when naming a species

Answer 18

specific epithet

Question 19

an evolutionary novelty unique to a clade

Answer 19

derived characters

Question 20

also called “ocean razor” where one is given possible explanations where the simplest explanation is the most consistent with the facts

Answer 20

principal of parsimony