Evolution Ch 1 terms

Biological evolution

The change in inherited traits of a population over generations.

Fossil

The preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past.

Genetic drift

Evolution arising from random changes in the genetic composition of a population from one generation to the next.

Homologous

Structures in different species that are similar due to shared ancestry.

Lineage

A sequence of species that form a direct line of descent.

Mutation

A change in the genomic sequence that can lead to genetic variation.

Natural selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Phenotype

A measurable aspect of organisms, such as morphology (structure), physiology, and behavior.

Morphology

Referring to the form and structure of organisms

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.

Genus

A taxonomic rank that is one level above species and below family.

Synapomorphy

A characteristic shared by two or more groups that was derived from a common ancestor.

Viral reassortment

Occurs when genetic material from different strains is mixed into new combinations within a single cell