Unit 4 List 1 Evolution

Question 1

Amino Acid Sequencing

Answer 1

the process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins and peptides

Question 2

Analogous Structure

Answer 2

features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature

Question 3

Anatomy

Answer 3

The study of the structure of a plant or animal

Question 4

Biochemical Evidence

Answer 4

the use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms

Question 5

Biogeography

Answer 5

the study of the geographic distribution of plants, animals, and other forms of life

Question 6

Cladogram

Answer 6

a branching tree diagram that shows ancestral relationships among organisms

Question 7

Common Ancestry

Answer 7

Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages

Question 8

Descent with Modification

Answer 8

passing traits from parent to offspring

Question 9

DNA Sequencing

Answer 9

determining the order of the four chemical building blocks - called “bases” - that make up the DNA molecule

Question 9

Electrophoresis

Answer 9

a laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge

Question 10

Embryo

Answer 10

the early developmental stage of a multicellular organism that follows fertilization

Question 11

Embryology

Answer 11

a branch of biology dealing with embryos and their development

Question 12

Evolutionary Tree

Answer 12

a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms

Question 13

Fossil Record

Answer 13

a collection of fossils documenting the history of life on Earth

Question 14

Homologous Structure

Answer 14

similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions

Question 15

Homology

Answer 15

similarity of the structure, physiology, or development of different species of organisms based upon their descent from a common evolutionary ancestor

Question 16

Paleontology

Answer 16

the study of the history of life on Earth as based on fossils.

Question 17

Phenotypic Similarity

Answer 17

a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families.

Question 18

Phylogeny

Answer 18

the evolutionary history of a kind of organism.

Question 19

Phylogenetic Tree

Answer 19

a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms

Question 20

Vestigal Structures

Answer 20

Structures that have no apparent function and appear to be residual parts from a past ancestor

Question 21

Sedimentary Layers

Answer 21

distinct strata of sediment that have accumulated over time, forming the Earth’s crust and providing a record of geological history

Question 22

Adaptation

Answer 22

the process by which a species becomes fitted to its environment

Question 23

Behavior

Answer 23

the change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus

Question 24

Competition

Answer 24

a set of interactions between different populations or individuals from the same population to get one or more resources from the ecosystem

Question 25

Fitness

Answer 25

a quantitative representation of individual reproductive success

Question 26

Gene Pool

Answer 26

the combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species

Question 27

Genetic Variation

Answer 27

the presence of differences in sequences of genes between individual organisms of a species

Question 28

Geographic Isolation

Answer 28

the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers

Question 29

Morphology

Answer 29

a branch of biology that studies the external and internal structures of living things

Question 30

Natural Selection

Answer 30

the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change

Question 31

Phenotypic Expression

Answer 31

An organism’s phenotype refers to the organism’s physical appearance (physical traits) as well as the type of proteins expressed within the organism’s body

Question 32

Physiology

Answer 32

a branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of life or of living matter (such as organs, tissues, or cells) and of the physical and chemical phenomena involved

Question 33

Population

Answer 33

a group of organisms of the same species living in the same geographic area at the same time

Question 34

Reproductive Isolation

Answer 34

a set of barriers that exist between different species that make them unable to breed and produce healthy offspring

Question 35

Sexual Selection

Answer 35

the process by which individuals compete for access to mates and fertilization opportunities

Question 36

Speciation

Answer 36

occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics

Question 37

Species

Answer 37

a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

Question 38

Trait

Answer 38

a specific characteristic of an individual

Question 39

Coevolution

Question 40

Convergent Evolution

Question 41

Divergent Evolution

Question 42

Founder Effect

Question 43

Gene Flow

Question 44

Gene Frequency

Question 45

Gene Pool

Question 46

Genetic Drift

Question 47

Geologic Record