Practice TestTake a test on your terms and definitions
Spaced RepetitionScientifically backed study method
Matching GameHow quick can you match all your cards?
FlashcardsStudy terms and definitions
1 / 19
There's no tags or description
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
20 Terms
1
What is the process by which organisms change over time through natural selection according to Darwin's theory?
Evolution.
New cards
2
What do fossils provide evidence of?
A physical record of organisms that once lived on Earth.
New cards
3
What are the four steps in the formation of fossils?
1. Organism dies, 2. Buried in sediment, 3. Pressure builds, 4. Exposed to surface.
New cards
4
What type of organism has no nucleus and is categorized as a single-celled organism?
Prokaryote.
New cards
5
What is a vestigial structure?
Body parts that have no current function but did in the past for ancestors.
New cards
6
What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?
Homologous structures have the same basic structure and origin but different functions; analogous structures have different structures but similar functions.
New cards
7
What does comparative anatomy study?
It examines structures of different species to understand evolutionary relationships.
New cards
8
What is biogeography?
The study of the geographic distribution of living organisms.
New cards
9
What are adaptations?
Traits that help organisms survive and reproduce in their environment.
New cards
10
What theory did Wallace propose that coincides with Darwin's ideas?
Theory of evolution by natural selection.
New cards
11
What is Charles Darwin known for?
His theory of evolution through natural selection.
New cards
12
What does the term 'natural selection' refer to?
The process in which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
New cards
13
What was significant about the fossils Darwin found?
They showed similarities to current living species, indicating change over time.
New cards
14
What is the age of Earth commonly accepted to be?
Approximately 4.5 billion years.
New cards
15
What does comparative embryology study?
It examines the similarities and differences in embryonic development of different species.
New cards
16
What does molecular biology compare?
The DNA and genetic matters among different organisms to determine their relationships.
New cards
17
What is meant by 'survival of the fittest'?
The idea that only organisms best suited for their environment will survive and reproduce.
New cards
18
What major event is associated with the extinction of dinosaurs?
An asteroid impact.
New cards
19
What is the significance of the Cambrian explosion?
A period when most major animal phyla appeared, leading to diverse life forms.
New cards
20
What is the importance of studying evolutionary biology?
It helps understand the connections between organisms and their historical changes.
Studied by 0 people
