Biology Term 4: Human Evolution

natural selection

variation, competition, survival, reproduction, inheritance

fossil formation process

organism dies, buried in sediment, minerals replace, pressure builds, fossil forms

evidences of evolution

fossil records, comparative anatomy, embryonic development, biochemical analysis

relative dating

determine the age of rocks by comparing them with other rocks in other layers

carbon 14 / radiometric dating

use decay of radioactive isotopes

fossil record location

sedimentary rocks (most common rocks at the earth’s surface)

fossil records types

imprints, compression

homologous structures

common ancestor, similar structure, different function

analogous structures

no common ancestor, different structure, similar function

Lamarck’s theory

change happens due to need, use

Darwin’s theory

variation already exists, natural selection, inherited traits

example of Darwin’s theory

antibiotic resistance

DNA

genetic material (instructions) in all living things

genes

specific sections of DNA; instructions for traits and cells

chromosomes

bundles of tightly coiled DNA found in the nucleus of cells

environmental factors

climate, food, culture

variation causes

mutation, recombination

mutation

random changes in DNA sequence, introducing phenotypic traits

recombination

genetic material from two parents combines during reproduction; blend of genetic information

adaptation definition

a trait that helps an organism to survive/reproduce

structural adaptation

physical trait

behavioral adaptation

behavioral trait