molecular basis of evolution Flashcards
evolution explains both the ___ and ____ of species
unity and diversity
what is evolution
process of gradual change during which new species arise from older species
what are mutations
generations of new genetic material by mistakes in copying of DNA strand
what is taxonomy
describing, identifying, classifying and naming of organisms
genus
group (clade) of closely related species
what is the hierarchy of categories (taxa)
domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
what are species
a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring, or a group of organisms w similar morphology or genetic identity
what are some ways we identify species
morphology, ecology, geographic distribution, biochemistry/ physiology, nucleic acid sequence
what is the dichotomous key
tool for classification that divides groups into two
ex w a bunch of animals splitting into groups w 4 legs and groups 4 8 legs
then splitting those groups into further groups with wings and no wings etc etc
works but ignore true relationship of organisms
what must taxonomic tools consider
ancestral lineages and origins
homologous structures
share a common origin
ex human, whale and bat fingers
analogous structutures
share a common function but arose from different ancestors ex bat and bird wing
what is phylogeny
study of evolutionary history of species, helps us view relationships
terminal taxa
things at the end of the tree (the descendants), can be living or fossils
give an example of why phylogeny is important
use of drugs, same drugs for different parasites with recent common ancestor