Unit 4 List 1- Evolution Flashcards
amino acid sequencing
The arrangement of amino acids in a protein
analogous structure
similar physical features in organisms that do not share a common ancestor
anatomy
the study of structures of living things
biochemical evidence
includes DNA, RNA, and protein sequence comparisons
biogeography
The study of the geographic distribution of living things
cladogram
a diagram that shows relationships between species
common ancestry
Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages
descent with modification
passing traits from parent to offspring
DNA sequencing
determining the order of the four chemical building blocks - called “bases” - that make up the DNA molecule
electrophoresis
the movement of electrically charged particles in a fluid under the influence of an electric field
embryo
an unborn baby
evolutionary tree
a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent
embryology
The study of the embryo’s formation and development
fossil record
the collection of fossils in the Earth’s crust and their placement in chronological order
homologous structure
similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor
homology
Features inherited from common ancestors
paleontology
the study of ancient life
phenotypic similarity
a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families
phylogeny
the study of relationships among different groups of organisms and their evolutionary development
phylogenetic tree
a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms
vestigial structures
Structures that have no apparent function and appear to be residual parts from a past ancestor
sedimentary layers
formed when layers and layers of sediment get compressed together and eventually harden into rock
adaptation
special body parts or behaviors that help a living thing survive in an environment
behavior
how one conducts themselves
competition
the act or process of trying to get or win something
fitness
the ability to perform daily tasks with ease
geographic isolation
a physical separation of populations
gene pool
the combination of all the genes
genetic variation
differences among the genomes of members of the same species
morphology
he study of meaningful units of language
phenotypic expression
the observable characteristics in an organism
natural selection
organisms have adaptations that make them better able to live in their environment
physiology
the study of their function
reproductive isolation
the inability of a species to breed successfully
population
the number of people living in a certain place
sexual selection
“special case” of natural selection
speciation
how a new kind of plant or animal species is created
species
the most detailed form of classification of living things
trait
a quality that sets one person or thing off from another
Coevolution
used to describe cases where two (or more) species reciprocally affect each other’s evolution.
Convergent evolution
occurs when organisms that aren’t closely related evolve similar features or behaviours, 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
the movement of genes from one population to another population
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 entirety of the layers of rock strata
