Unit 4 List 1 Evolution 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.
anatomy
The study of the structure of a plant or animal.
biochemical evidence
The use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes in living organisms.
biogeography
The study of the patterns of geographic distribution of organisms.
cladogram
A branching tree diagram that shows ancestral relationships among organisms.
common ancestry
An ancestral group of organisms that is shared by multiple lineages.
descent with modification
Passing traits from parent to offspring.
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.
embryo
The early developmental stage of an animal while it is in the egg or within the uterus of the mother.
embryology
A branch of biology dealing with embryos and their development.
evolutionary tree
A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
fossil record
The history of life as documented by fossils.
homologous structure
An organ, system, or body part that shares a common ancestry in multiple organisms.
homology
Similarity of the structure or development of different species of organisms.
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 evolutionary history of a kind of organism.
phylogenetic tree
A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
vestigial structures
Fratures of an organism that are considered to have lost much or all of their original function through evolution.
sedimentary layers
Formed from pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms.
adaptation
The act of changing something like behavior to make it suitable for a new place or situation.
behavior
An organism’s adaptive response to stimuli in its environment.
competition
The rivalry between or among living things for territory, resources, goods, or mates.
fitness
A quantitative representation of individual reproductive success.
gene pool
A gene pool refers to the combination of all the genes.
genetic variation
Genetic variation is the presence of differences in sequences of genes between individual organisms of a species.
geographic isolation
The physical separation of populations of organisms from 1to another due to geographical barriers.
morphology
A branch of biology that studies the external and internal structures of living things.
natural selection
Process in which an organism adapts to its environment through selectively reproducing changes in its genotype.
phenotypic expression
The observable characteristics in an organism from the expressing of genes.
physiology
The study of how living organisms function.
population
A group of organisms of a species that live in the same place at the same time.
Reproductive isolation
The inability of a species to breed successfully with related species.
Sexual selection
The process by which individuals compete for mates and fertilization opportunities.
Speciation
How a new kind of plant or animal species is created.
Species
A group of individuals that actually or potentially interbreed in nature.
Trait
A specific characteristic of an individual.
Coevolution
Where 2 (or more) species reciprocally affect each other’s evolution.
Convergent evolution
When organisms that aren’t closely related evolve similar features or behaviors.
Divergent evolution
The process that occurs when 2 groups from the same species evolve distinct traits.
Founder effect
When a new colony is started by a few members of the original population.
Gene flow
Any movement of individuals, or the genetic material they carry.
Gene frequency
The ratio of the number of a specified allele in a population to the total of all alleles.
Gene pool
The combination of all the genes 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.
