Natural Selection Flashcards
Evolution
cumulative genetic change in a population over time
population
group of individuals of the same species that interbreed and interact mostly with eachother
community
group of individuals of different species interbreeding and interacting mostly with eachother
central dogma of molecular biology
dna-rna-proteins-trait
phenotype
expressed traits
morphological, phsyiological, behavioral, of an individual
genotype
genetic composition of an indiv.
phenotype plasticity
organism can express different phenotypes based on current environment
natural selection
mechanism that leads to evolution
For a trait to be involved in natural selection it has to…
- individuals must be variable
- some of variation must be heritable
- be related to fitness
fitness
the number of viable offspring (surviving) proceeded during lifetime
adaptive radiation
rapid diversification of lineage when it encounters new habitats or innovations
Natural selection acts when?
in the here and now
- it is not directed
- it is iterative
iterative
pieces of complex adaptation built over time
evolution is more like a tree than a ladder
complexity evolves only if complex traits convey higher fitness
is their a goal for evolution
no goal for evolution
local adaptation
pattern/process by which different populations evolve though natural selection to match their particular environment
acclimation
- type of NON genetic change
- “plastic” change
- happens within individuals lifetime
adaptation
- type of evolution involving genetic changes
- happens in populations, NOT individuals
descent with modification
- species change through time
- fossil record
- vestigal traits
- observed changes in extant time
fossil
remenant of organism that lived in the past
when looking at a fossil consider…
durability of the specimen?
rapid burial?
lack of oxygen?
