Unit 4 List 1 Evolution Flashcards
Amino acid sequencing
The process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins and peptides.
Analogous structure
A trait which serves the same or similar functions between separate organisms, but have different structures.
Anatomy
The science that studies the structure of the body.
Biochemical evidence
The use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms.
Biogeography
The study of the distribution of plants, animals, and other types of life.
Cladogram
A diagram that shows relationships between species.
Common ancestry
An ancestral group of organisms that is shared by multiple lineages.
Descent with modification
Passing traits from parent to offspring.
DNA sequencing
Determining the order of the four chemical building blocks that make up the 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 the formation and development of an embryo and fetus.
Evolutionary tree
A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Fossil record
A collection of fossils documenting the history of life on Earth.
Homologous structure
Similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions.
Homology
Having the same typical structure and position.
Paleontology
The study of the history of life on Earth as based on fossils.
Phenotypic similarity
A measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families.
Phylogeny
The representation of the evolutionary history and relationships between groups of organisms.
Phylogenetic tree
A diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor.
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
Sedimentary rocks are laid down in layers called beds or strata. A bed is defined as a layer of rock that has a uniform lithology and texture.
Adaptation
The evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes better able to live in its habitat or habitats.
Behavior
The change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus.
Competition
A relationship between organisms that strive for the same resources in the same place.
Gene pool
The combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species.
Fitness
An organism’s ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring.
Genetic variation
A term used to describe the variation in the DNA sequence in each of our genomes.
Geographic isolation
The physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers.
Morphology
The study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features.
Natural selection
The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change.
Phenotypic expression
An individual’s observable traits, such as height, eye color and blood type.
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 process by which individuals compete for access to mates and fertilization opportunities.
Speciation
The process by which new species form.
Species
A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.
Trait
A specific characteristic of an individual.
Coevolution
The process of reciprocal evolutionary change that occurs between pairs of species or among groups of species as they interact with one another.
Convergent evolution
Occurs when organisms that aren’t closely related evolve similar features or behaviors, often as solutions to the same problems.
Divergent evolution
The process by which interbreeding species diverged into two or more evolutionary groups.
Founder effect
The reduction in genomic variability that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population.
Gene flow
Any movement of individuals, and/or the genetic material they carry, from one population to another.
Gene frequency
The ratio of the number of a specified allele in a population to the total of all alleles at its genetic locus.
Gene pool
The combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species.
Genetic drift
The change in frequency of an existing gene variant in the population due to random chance.
Geologic record
The irreplaceable account of the joint history between the Earth and living organisms.
