natural selection Flashcards
adaptation
a characteristic that improves an individuals ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
species
a group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring.
evolution
the process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise.
fossil
the remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes.
fossil record
a historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in layers of the earth.
traits
a genetically determined characteristic
selective breading
the human practice of breading animals or plants that have certain desired characteristics
natural selection
is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change
generation time
is the average interval between the birth of an individual and the birth of its offspring
speciation
the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
relative dating
is the process of determining if one rock or geologic event is older or younger than another
absolute dating
methods measure the physical properties of an object itself and use these measurements to calculate its age
geologic time scale
is the “calendar” for events in Earth history. It subdivides all time into named units of abstract time called—in descending order of duration—eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages
extincet
of a species, family, or other group of animals or plants having no living members; no longer in existence
plant tectonics
is the generally accepted scientific theory that considers the Earth’s lithosphere to comprise a number of large tectonic plates
