Vocabulary Flashcards
Pleisiomorphy
Character state ancestrally present in a set of terminal taxa
Ex- cell wall is something a parrot, plant, and tree all have
Parapyletic group
An ancestor and some but not all of its descendants
Polytomy
Three or more branches emerging from one node
Polyphyletic
Unrelated taxa does not include ancestor
Monophyletic
A group with an ancestor and all it’s descendants
Relative age
Refers to order in which events took place
Absolute age
Refers to the actual numerical age of an event
Superposition
Older bigger, younger top
Radioactivity
Discovery of decay process
Radiometric
How much time has passed since rock has formed
Best way to preserve fossils?
Rapidly bury
Unaltered remains
Freezing
Mummification
Amber
Anoxia (no oxygen)
Paleontology
Study of past life as preserved in geological record
Science
A method, a process
Starts with repeatable observations
Repeatable observations
Process (lab)
Resampling (from field)
Hypothesis
Am idea or proposition who’s proof or falsehood isn’t known
Theory
Explains hypothesis
Fact
Idea confirmed by corroboration and consilience
How is science different from other endeavors?
- Predictive power
- Inevitably of ideas
- No reliance on authority or precedent
- Universality of ideas
- Value neutrality
Process of molds and casts
- Original objects are buried
- Sediment hardens
- Fossil dissolves leaving behind a cavity (mold)
Or - Cavity is filled with minerals (cast)
Informative value of fossil
Completeness
Articulation
Quality of preservation
