Natural Selection and Evolution Flashcards
Properties of life
- cells
- evolutionary adaptation
- genetic material
- the need for energy, growth, and development
- regulation of one’s internal and external environment
- ability to reproduce
why do some people view viruses as not being a living thing?
b/c they can’t reproduce on their own
define biological evolution
changes in the genetic structures of a population over time
there is a common ancestor that can be traced back 3.7 billion years ago - True/False
True
define adaptation
traits that help an organism survive in its current environment
define natural selection
how organisms evolve & adapt to their environment in successive generations
is natural selection random?
no!
what are the requirements for natural selection?
- there must genetic variation in the population
- there must be differential reproduction
what is evolution?
genetic changes in a population
what is differential reproduction?
when the best adapted individuals will reproduce easier than less adapted ones, making the next generation stronger
what are three ways species can evolve?
- natural selection
- genetic drift
- gene flow
is evolution purpose driven?
NO!
how old is the universe?
13 billion years old
what is a fossil?
preserved remnants of organisms
what kind of rocks are fossils usually found in?
sedimentary rocks
is relative or absolute dating more accurate?
absolute dating
what is relative dating?
knowing that fossils found in deepest layer of the earth are the oldest and that fossils found closest to the top are the youngest
what is absolute dating?
radiometric dating, a variety of methods to determine fossil age
what is radiometric dating?
using known decay rates for radioactive isotopes to determine age
what is a half-life?
how long it takes for half of the parent isotope to decay into the daughter atoms
what is the daughter isotope of C-14?
N-14
when is radiocarbon dating appropriate to use?
when you are estimating the dates of fossils from less than 10,000 years ago
