Phylogeny II and Human Evolution

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture about phylogeny and human evolution.

Microevolution

The change in allele frequencies in populations over time.

Macroevolution

Changes that occur at or above the level of species.

Phylogeny

A graphical representation depicting the historical relationships among species or higher taxonomic groups.

Speciation

The process by which new species arise from existing populations.

Homoplasy

Similar traits arising independently in different species, often as a result of convergent evolution.

Adaptive Radiation

Rapid divergence from a single ancestral species into many species, typically in new habitats.

Outgroup

A species or group of species that is closely related to the ingroup but not part of it, used to help determine evolutionary relationships.

Common Ancestor

An ancestor that two or more descendant species have in common.

Allele Frequency

The relative frequency of an allele at a genetic locus in a population.

Neanderthals

Extinct hominids that share a common ancestor with modern humans, lived in Europe and western Asia.

Mitochondrial DNA

A type of DNA located in the mitochondria that is inherited maternally and often used in phylogenetic studies.

Hybridization

The process where individuals from two different species interbreed and produce hybrid offspring.

Divergence

The process by which two or more species become more dissimilar over time.

Phenotypic Diversification

The emergence of different physical forms in a species, often in response to environmental challenges.

Morphological Differences

Variations in physical structure between different species or populations.

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram that represents the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Evolutionary Hypotheses

Theories regarding the patterns and processes of evolution that can be evaluated through phylogenetic analysis.

Introgression

The movement of genes between species through hybridization followed by backcrossing.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with advantageous traits reproduce more than those without those traits.

Genetic Variation

The diversity in gene frequencies within a population.

Demographic Expansion

An increase in population size, which can lead to genetic drift and increased deleterious mutations.

Loss-of-Function Mutations

Mutations that result in the gene not functioning as it originally did, potentially leading to disease or increased susceptibility.

Two Lineages Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that two different species originated from a common ancestor through speciation events.