EVOLUTION_-_Comparative_Biology

lecture 1

General Biology

Stresses commonalities among organisms and emphasizes similarities.

Comparative Biology

Investigates differences among organisms at all levels and their implications for evolution, phylogeny, ecology, and biodiversity.

Fossil Record

Informs the study of comparative biology by providing evidence of past life forms and their evolution.

Extremophiles

Organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions, often studied in comparative biology.

Mitosis

A process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse gametes.

Euglena

A genus of single-celled organisms with both plant and animal characteristics, often classified as neither strictly plant nor animal.

Tree of Life

A model that shows the relationship between different species and how they evolved from common ancestors.

Diatoms

A lineage of protists that produce significant amounts of oxygen through photosynthesis.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce energy in eukaryotic cells, previously thought to be essential but are not found in some lineages.

Three Domain System

A classification system that divides life into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, which has been recently reconsidered to include only two domains.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism, much of which currently has no known function.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and organelles, including a wide variety of life forms such as animals and plants.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire planet.

Phylogeny

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