Unit 4, List 1 Flashcards
amino acid sequencing
the process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins and peptides
analogous structure
features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature
anatomy
field in the biological sciences concerned with the identification and description of the body structures of living things
biochemical evidence
he amino acid sequence of proteins
biogeography
the branch of biology that deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.
cladogram
diagrams which depict the relationships between different groups of taxa called “clades”
common ancestry
Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages
descent with modification
the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor
DNA sequencing
the general laboratory technique for determining the exact sequence of nucleotides, or bases, in a DNA molecule
electrophoresis
a laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge
embryo
Early stage in the development of humans and other animals or plants
embryology
the study of development of an embryo from the stage of ovum fertilization through to the fetal stage
evolutionary tree
a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor.
fossil record
made up of all the fossils that have been found, along with their relative ages
homologous structure
an organ, system, or body part that shares a common ancestry in multiple organisms
homology
similarity of the structure, physiology, or development of different species of organisms based upon their descent from a common evolutionary ancestor
paleontology
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants
phenotypic similarity
a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families
phylogeny
refers to the evolutionary history of a group of organisms
phylogenetic tree
a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
vestigial structures
a feature that a species inherited from an ancestor but that is now less elaborate and functional than in the ancestor.
sedimentary layers
A bed is defined as a layer of rock that has a uniform lithology and texture. Beds form by the deposition of layers of sediment on top of each other. The sequence of beds that characterizes sedimentary rocks is called bedding.
adaptation
modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment
behavior
the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others.
competition
the activity or condition of competing.
fitness
an organism’s ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring
gene pool
the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.
genetic variation
a term used to describe the variation in the DNA sequence in each of our genomes
geographic isolation
a term used to describe the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers
morphology
the branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms, and with relationships between their structures.
natural selection
a mechanism of evolution
phenotypic expression
the observable characteristics in an organism that results from the expression of genes
physiology
the study of how the human body works
population
all the organisms of the same group or species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves
reproductive isolation
the inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences
sexual selection
the plumage in a peacock, which attracts mates, and the horns on a ram, which help it compete for a mate.
speciation
how a new kind of plant or animal species is created
species
a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.
trait
a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.
