natural selectoin Flashcards
adaptation
in biology, the process by which a species becomes fitted to its environment; it is the result of natural selection’s
Species
A species is often defined as a group of organisms that can reproduce naturally with one another and create fertile offspring.
Evolution
Genes reveal how our pelvis evolved for upright walking
fossil
remnant, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of a past geologic age that has been preserved in Earth’s crust
Fossil Record
The fossil record helps paleontologists, archaeologists, and geologists place important events and species in the appropriate geologic era
Trait
A trait, as related to genetics, is a specific characteristic of an individual
Selective Breeding
Selective breeding involves choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics
Natural Selection
Natural selection is the process through which species adapt to their environments. It is the engine that drives evolution
Generation time
time taken for a cell population to double in numbers and thus equivalent to the average length of the cell cycle
Speciation
Speciation occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics
Relative Dating
Relative dating is used to arrange geological events, and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence
Absolute Dating
Absolute dating methods give rocks an actual date or date range in numbers of years
Geologic Time Scale
The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth history.
Extinct
the complete disappearance of a species from Earth
Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that explains how major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements.
