evolution
the changes of heritable characteristics of organisms over generations
heritable characteristics
characteristics that can be inherited by the next generation
speciation
the evolution of a new species from an existing one
allele frequencies
the number of times an allele occurs within a gene pool in populations change over time
fossils as evidence of evolution
can be used to tell organisms have changed significantly over time and can be dated and sequenced to show evidence for transitional species
selective breeding as evidence of evolution
showcases the ability to increase expression of characteristics over many generations
variation
differences which exist between organisms of the same species
mutation
source of genetic variation through a change in the DNA base sequence resulting from copying an error during DNA replication and creating a generation of new alleles
crossing over during meiosis
the process by which homologous chromosomes exchange alleles as non-sister chromatids can cross over and get entangled and can result in a new combination of alleles
random orientation
occurs due to the independent arrangement of homologous pairs along the equator of the cell during metaphase
adaptations
characteristics that cause individuals to be well suited to their environment and methods of living
natural selection
the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment to survive, reproduce, and pass on their advantageous alleles, to increase in frequency within a population
binomial system
the biological system of naming used to name species according to their taxa
classification structure mnemonic
Do: Domain
Kinky: Kingdom
People: Phylum
Come: Class
Over: Order
For: Family
Great: Genus
Sex: Species
Bryophytes
small terrestrial plants that have no vascular tissue and reproduction takes place via spores, which have rhizoids instead of roots
filicinophytes
ferns which contain vascular tissue as well as roots, stems and leaves which reproduce via spores distributed on the underside of fronds called sporangia
coniferophytes
tall, straight trees commonly known as conifers which reproduce using pollen and ovules
angiospermophytes
flowering plants with roots, stems as well as vascular and cambium tissues who’s flowers produce pollen and contain ovules
porifera
simple aquatic organisms consisting of a colony of cells, commonly known as sponges supported by silica or calcium formations called spicules.
cnidaria
aquatic organisms with a body cavity surrounded by two layers of cells with a single opening for both ingestion and egestion
platyhelminths
flat bodied, unsegmented worms which are sort and lack a circulatory system or skeletal structure
annelida
round bodied, segmented worms with a ring-shaped body with a separate mouth and anus
mollusca
a diverse group of animals including snails, slugs, mussels and limpets with a muscular foot and separate openings for mouth and anus
arthropoda
animals with segmented bodies, a hard exoskeleton and usually one pair of jointed limbs per body segment
chordata
all vertebrates, having a notochord, a hollow nerve chord, a series of pharyngeal slits and a tail which extends beyond the anus
clade
a group of organisms that have all descended from a common ancestor
homologous traits
characteristics which may differ in form and function in species but that have a shared evolutionary origin
analogous traits
characteristics with the same function but which do not share an evolutionary origin