Vocab for Test #1

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

change of a trait in an organism to make it more fit in its environment

Question 2

Chronogram

Answer 2

Branch lengths are proportional to time and root-to-tip lengths are equal.

Question 3

Phylogram

Answer 3

Inferred from character states (nucleotides or phenotypes) Branch lengths are proportional to this. Root-to-tip lengths are unequal.

Question 4

Cladogram

Answer 4

Branching order and they are whatever length we draw. Won’t have a scale bar!

Question 5

Dendrogram:

Answer 5

generic term for tree-like diagram showing relationships

Question 6

Plesiomorphy:

Answer 6

Ancestral trait

Question 7

Apomorphy: (2 types)

Answer 7

Derived traits, Autapomorphy, Synapomorphy

Question 8

Autapomorphy:

Answer 8

Uniquely derived (only 1 group has it)

Question 9

Synapomorphy:

Answer 9

Shared derived traits held by 2 or more –> can predict common ancestors

Question 10

Systematics:

Answer 10

scientific field devoted to understanding relationships among organisms

Question 11

Homology:

Answer 11

Similar structures in different organisms due to a shared common ancestor

Question 12

Analogy:

Answer 12

Structures with similar functions in animals that evolved separately –> no common ancestor

Question 13

Vestigial

Answer 13

A structure inherited from an ancestor but that is now less elaborate or useful than before (appendix)

Question 14

Antigen Drift

Answer 14

The gradual process of small changes in the virus’s antigens (ex. Spanish flu)

Question 15

Adaptive Radiation

Answer 15

Rapid increase in the number of species with a common ancestor that has great ecological and morphological diversity.

Question 16

Taxon

Answer 16

Any classification of an organism in the taxonomic ranking (ex. taxon Primate or taxon Panthera)

Question 17

“The Great Chain of Being”

Answer 17

The idea of a hierarchy of life (chimpanzees –> humans) believed by Aristotle and Plato and was widely accepted in the Christian faith to assign “worth” and show God’s hand in everything

Question 18

Contingency

Answer 18

Future events that cannot be predicted with certainty. Stephen Jay Gould emphasized evolution was brought about by random events in history.

Question 19

Common Ancestor

Answer 19

Organism that is shared by 2 or more descendants lineages.

Question 20

Antigen Shift

Answer 20

Sudden, dramatic change in a virus’s genome. Usually caused by a combination of 2 different viruses (ex. bird flu or Avian influenza combining with the human flu)

Question 21

Taxonomy: (vs systematics)

Answer 21

Science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms.

Question 22

Systematics: (vs taxonomy)

Answer 22

Study of diversity and evolutionary relationships of organisms through time.

Question 23

Parsimony:

Answer 23

The principle that states the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is most likely true.

Question 24

Homoplasy, Reversal:

Answer 24

Ex. Reversal back to aquatic life for cetaceans (whales and dolphins)

Question 25

Homoplasy, Convergence:

Answer 25

Ex. Sharks and Orcas have similar body type but did not obtain these traits from a common ancestor

Question 26

Homoplasy, Horizontal Gene Transfer:

Answer 26

The exchanging of genetic material between organisms that are not related by parent or offspring. Ex. Bacteria that gave rise to mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Question 27

Transcription factors:

Answer 27

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences and switch them on or off.

Question 28

Phenotypic plasticity:

Answer 28

trait differences NOT due to genetic variation.

Question 29

Homoplasy:

Answer 29

same trait independently derived