bio Flashcards Set

Paleontology is the scientific study of __________, which are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life forms.

fossils

Transitional forms are fossils that exhibit traits common to both an __________ group and its derived descendant group.

ancestral

An example of a transitional form is the __________, which shows features of both dinosaurs and modern birds.

Archaeopteryx

Homology refers to similarities in structures or genes across different species due to __________ ancestry.

shared

Embryonic homologies are observed in the early developmental stages of vertebrates, where structures like tails and __________ pouches are present.

pharyngeal

Vestigial organs are remnants of structures that had important functions in ancestors but are __________ or nonfunctional in modern descendants.

reduced

Convergent evolution occurs when unrelated species develop similar traits due to adapting to __________ environments.

similar

Divergent evolution describes the process where two related species become more __________ over time.

dissimilar

Allopatric speciation occurs when populations are __________ isolated, leading to new species development.

geographically

The Biological Species Concept defines species as groups of organisms that can __________ and produce fertile offspring.

interbreed

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with __________ traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

favorable

The five tenets of evolution include variation, inheritance of traits, competition for resources, survival of the fittest, and evolution occurring over __________.

time

Recombination is the process by which genetic material is __________ during reproduction, enhancing diversity.

shuffled

Genetic drift is the random fluctuation of __________ frequencies in small populations.

allele

The bottleneck effect occurs when a population's size is drastically reduced due to __________ events.

environmental

Phylogenetics is the study of __________ relationships among species, often represented through phylogenetic trees.

evolutionary

Cladistics is a method of classification based on shared __________ characteristics.

derived

Synapomorphy refers to a shared, __________ trait that is used to group species.

derived

The principle of __________ suggests that the simplest explanation requiring the fewest changes is preferred in constructing phylogenetic trees.

parsimony

Outgroups are species closely related to the group being studied but are __________ part of it.

not

The term fitness refers to an organism's ability to __________ and reproduce, passing on its genes.

survive

Species are defined as groups of interbreeding populations that are __________ isolated from other such groups.

reproductively

Prezygotic barriers occur __________ fertilization while postzygotic barriers happen after fertilization.

before

Direct observation provides evidence of evolution by __________ evolution happening in real time.

watching

Biogeography studies the distribution of species across __________ areas, providing insights into evolutionary paths.

geographical

Homology provides evidence for evolution through similarities in structures due to __________ ancestry.

shared

The fossil record serves as a timeline of evolutionary __________ documenting the emergence and extinction of species.

history

Why traits evolve is primarily because they help organisms __________ and reproduce.

survive

Transitional forms highlight intermediate states, demonstrating how species adapt and __________.

evolve