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 and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature
anatomy
the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.
biochemical evidence
the use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms, providing crucial insights into evolutionary relationships.
biogeography
the branch of biology that deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.
cladogram
a branching diagram showing the cladistic relationship between a number of species.
common ancestry
Ancestral organism shared by two or more descendent lineages
descent with modification
passing traits from parent to offspring
DNA sequencing
general laboratory technique for determining the exact sequence of nucleotides, or bases, in a DNA molecule.
electrophoresis
the movement of charged particles in a fluid or gel under the influence of an electric field.
embryo
an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development, in particular a human offspring during the period from approximately the second to the eighth week after fertilization
embryology
the branch of biology and medicine concerned with the study of embryos and their development.
Evolutionary Tree
a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor.
Fossil Record
a collection of fossils documenting the history of life on Earth.
homologous structure
an organ, system, or body part that shares a common ancestry in multiple organisms.
homology
the state of having the same or similar relation, relative position, or structure.
paleontology
the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.
phenotypic similarity
a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families.
phylogeny
the branch of biology that deals with phylogenesis.
phylogenetic tree
a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
vestigial structure
features 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 action or process of adapting or being adapted.
behavior
the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others.
competition
interaction between organisms, populations, or species, in which birth, growth and death depend on gaining a share of a limited environmental resource.
Fitness
an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
gene pool
the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.
genetic variation
the presence of differences in sequences of genes between individual organisms of a species
geographic isolation
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
the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution.
phenotypic expression
the observable characteristics in an organism that results from the expression of genes.
Physiology
the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
Population
a community of animals, plants, or humans among whose members interbreeding occurs.
reproductive isolation
a set of barriers that exist between different species that make them unable to breed and produce healthy offspring.
sexual selection
natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the other sex.
speciation
a lineage-splitting event that produces two or more separate species.
Species
classification comprising related organisms that share common characteristics and are capable of interbreeding.
trait
a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.
Coevolution
the influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution.
Convergent evolution
the independent development of similar traits or features (as of body structure or behavior) in unrelated or distantly related species
Divergent evolution
the process that occurs when two groups from the same species evolve distinct traits.
Founder effect
the reduced genetic diversity which results when a population is descended from a small number of colonizing ancestors.
Gene flow
the movement of genes
Gene frequency
the ratio of a particular allele to the total of all other alleles of the same gene in a given population.
Gene pool
the stock of different genes in an interbreeding population.
Genetic drift
variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.
Geologic Record
The geologic record in stratigraphy, paleontology and other natural sciences refers to the entirety of the layers of rock strata.
