key terms- theory of evolution biodiversity approaches

Question 1

allopatric speciation

Answer 1

Formation of separate species through divergent evolution in populations that are geographically isolated. (cf. sympatric speciation)

Question 2

cladistics

Answer 2

Method of determining the phylogeny or evolutionary relationships among taxa based on the occurrence of shared, derived character states

Question 3

evolution

Answer 3

Genetic change in the characteristics of a population of organisms over generations.

Question 4

macroevolution

Answer 4

Macroevolution refers to the concept of large-scale evolution that occurs at the level of species and above.

Question 5

microevolution

Answer 5

Changes in allele and genotype frequencies within a population over generations.

Question 6

phylogeny

Answer 6

Evolutionary history or relationships of a group of organisms.

Question 7

species

Answer 7

a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding

Question 8

sympatric speciation

Answer 8

The formation of separate species through divergent evolution in populations that are not geographically isolated. (cf. allopatric speciation)

Question 9

natural selection

Answer 9

Differential reproductive success of different genotypes as a result of some organisms being better adapted to their environment than other organisms.

Question 10

artificial selection

Answer 10

Differential reproductive success of different genotypes as a result of decisions made by humans about which organisms are used for breeding.

Question 11

mutation

Answer 11

A heritable change due to alteration in the nucleotide sequence or arrangement of DNA in an organism.

Question 12

stabilising selection

Answer 12

selection which favours phenotypes near the mean of the normal character distribution, leading to a reduction in variance around intermediate character states.

Question 13

disruptive selection

Answer 13

Selection which favours phenotypes towards both extremes of the normal character distribution, leading to a bimodal distribution of character values in a population.

Question 14

directional selection

Answer 14

Selection which favours phenotypes towards one extreme of the normal character distribution, leading to a consistent directional change in the mean value of a character in a population.

Question 15

taxonomy

Answer 15

Field of biology that aims to infer the phylogeny of organisms, classify them into a hierarchical series of groups and name the groups so classified.

Question 16

hierachial classification

Answer 16

the process of arranging various organisms into successive levels of the biological classification either in a decreasing or an increasing order from kingdom to species and vice versa

Question 17

systematics

Answer 17

Field of biology that aims to infer the phylogeny of organisms, classify them into a hierarchical series of groups and name the groups so classified.