Unit 4 List 1 Evolution RC Flashcards
Analogous Structure
Features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure
Amino Acid Sequencing
The process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins
Anatomy
A field in the biological sciences about the body structures of living things
Biochemical Evidence
The use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms
Biogeography
The geographic diversity of plants and animals
Cladogram
A diagram that shows the relationships between species
Common Ancestry
Referring to how species originate from a common ancestor
Descent With Modification
The passing of traits from parent to offspring
DNA Sequencing
Determining the order of nucleotide bases in DNA
Electrophoresis
A technique used to separate DNA, RNA, or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge
Embryo
The early, developmental stage of an animal
Embryology
The study of embryos and their development
Homologous Structure
Structures in an animal that are similar but serve different functions
Fossil Record
The history of life depicted by fossils
Evolutionary Tree
A diagram in the shape of a tree that shows the evolutionary history between species
Paleontology
The study of extinct species through bones
Homology
Having similar structures due to having a common ancestor
Phenotypic Similarity
The similarity between phenotypes
Phylogeny
The study of the evolutionary history of species
Sedimentary Layers
The layers of sedimentary rock in the Earth’s crust
Phylogenetic Tree
A diagram in the shape of a tree that shows the evolutionary history between species
Vestigial Structures
A structure that is inherited from an ancestor but no longer serves a purpose
Adaptation
The process where an organism becomes better suited to his environment
Behavior
The change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus
Competition
The interaction between organisms where they both require a resource that is in limited supply
Fitness
The representation of reproductive success
Gene Pool
A combination of the genes of a reproductive population or species
Genetic Variation
The difference or variety of DNA between individuals
Geographic Isolation
The physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers
Morphology
The study of the size, shape, and structure of organisms
Natural Selection
A mechanism of evolution where those that are better suited to the environment survive and reproduce
Phenotypic Expression
The expression of observable characteristics in an organism that results from the expression of genes
Physiology
The study of how the human body works
Population
The number of species in a given area
Reproductive Isolation
A set of barriers that exist between different species that make them unable to breed and produce healthy offspring
Sexual Selection
The process by which individuals compete for access to mates and those that get mates survive and reproduce
Speciation
Where populations evolve to become distinct species and is how new species are created
Species
A specific type of organism
Trait
A characteristic of an organism
Coevolution
where two or more species reciprocally affect each other’s evolution
Convergent Evolution
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 different organisms having common ancestors develop different traits or characteristics to adapt to the changing environmental conditions and needs.
Founder Effect
When a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population and makes home somewhere else
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
A representation of time based on the rock record of Earth
