Theory of Evolution Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the theory of evolution, natural selection, and related mechanisms.

Evolution

The change in species over time that shapes the diversity of life.

Evolutionary Theory

The scientific explanation of how evolution occurs, accounting for the diversity of life.

Paleontology

The scientific study of past life, including the origin and extinction of organisms, primarily through the examination of fossils.

Geology

The study of Earth's history based on evidence found in rocks, contributing to the understanding of how the planet and its life forms have changed over time.

John Ray

English naturalist who developed an early classification system for plants and animals and introduced the concept of species.

Carl Linnaeus

The father of modern taxonomy, who developed the binomial nomenclature system and organized living organisms into hierarchical categories based on physical traits.

George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon

Proposed that species could change over time, suggesting that the environment influences variations within organisms.

Erasmus Darwin

Speculated that species evolved from common ancestors and suggested that competition and environmental factors drive species change.

Georges Cuvier

Developed the theory of catastrophism, proposing that sudden, large-scale events shaped Earth's geological features and provided evidence of extinct species through fossil studies.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Introduced one of the first coherent theories of evolution, proposing that organisms adapt to their environments through acquired traits, which could then be passed on to offspring.

James Hutton

Introduced the concept of uniformitarianism, arguing that Earth’s geological processes occurred gradually over long periods.

Charles Lyell

Further established that geological changes occur slowly and continuously, influencing Charles Darwin and emphasizing the vast periods available for evolution to take place.

Charles Darwin

Formulated the theory of natural selection, proposing that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to gradual changes in populations.

Alfred Russel Wallace

Independently conceived the theory of natural selection and highlighted the role of geographical barriers in species distribution and evolution with the concept of the Wallace Line.

Lamarck's Theory of Use and Disuse

Proposed that organisms can change their traits during their lifetime based on the use or disuse of specific body parts; frequently used structures become stronger, while unused ones deteriorate.

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

The theory that offspring can inherit traits acquired during an organism's lifetime.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems across the planet, providing insights into how species adapt to their environments and how geographic isolation can lead to the formation of new species.

Homologous Structures

Body parts with similar structures but different functions, indicating common ancestry.

Analogous Structures

Structures with similar functions but different evolutionary origins, showing how different species can evolve similar adaptations through convergent evolution.

Vestigial Structures

Remnants of once-functional organs, providing evidence that species have evolved and adapted over time.

Natural Selection

The process where individuals with advantageous inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to gradual changes in populations over generations.

Fitness

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Overpopulation

The production of more offspring than the environment can support, leading to competition for limited resources.

Struggle for Existence

Competition among organisms for limited resources, essential for survival.

Stabilizing Selection

A type of natural selection that favors individuals with average traits while selecting against extreme traits, reducing variation within a population.

Directional Selection

Occurs when individuals with traits at one extreme are favored, causing a shift in the population's traits over time, often resulting from environmental changes.

Disruptive Selection

Favors individuals with extreme traits at both ends of the spectrum, while those with intermediate characteristics are disadvantaged, increasing genetic diversity.

Artificial Selection

Intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits by humans.

Non-Random Mating

Occurs when individuals select mates based on specific traits rather than mating randomly, leading to changes in allele frequencies.

Inbreeding

The mating of closely related individuals within a population, increasing the likelihood of genetic disorders.

Outbreeding

Involves mating between unrelated or distantly related individuals, enhancing genetic diversity and reducing the risk of inherited diseases.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies within a population, particularly in small populations, due to chance events rather than adaptive advantage.

Population Bottleneck

Occurs when a large proportion of a population is suddenly reduced due to an environmental event, resulting in a loss of genetic diversity.

Founder Effect

Occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation compared to the original population.