natural selection science Flashcards
DNA
a molecule that is present in all living cells and that contains the information that determines the traits that a living thing inherits and needs to live.
Nucleotide
in a nucleic-acid chain, a subunit that consists of a suger, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.
Natural selection
the process of which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted individuals do; a theory to explain the mechanism of evolution.
Adaptation
a characteristic that improves an individuals ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment
Mutation
a change in the nucleotide-base sequence of a gene or DNA molecule
Evolution
the process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such as 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 earths crust.
Species
a group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring.
Selective breeding
the human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired characteristics.
Speciation
the formation of new species as a result of evolution.
Primate
a type of mammal characterized by opposable thumbs a binocular vision.
Hominid
a type of primate characterized by bipedalism, relatively long lower limbs, and lack of a tail; examples include humans and their ancestors.
Homo sapiens
the speices of hominids that includes modern humans and their closest ancestors and the first appeared about 100,000 to 150,000 years ago.
Generation time
the period between birth of one generation and the birth of the next generation.
Trait
a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.
Charles Darwin
a English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributations to the science of evolution.
Rosalind Frank
Was a English chemist and xray crystallograther who made contibutions to the understanding of the molecular structers of DNA, RNA, viruses. coal, and graphite.
Watson and Crick
Cambride university scientist James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announce that they have determined the double heleix stucture.
Charagaff’s rule
state that DNA from any cell of all organisms should have a 1:1 ratio of pyrimidine a purine bases and, more specifically, that the amount ig guanine is equal to cytocine and the amount of adenine is equal to thymine.
