Evolution WebQuest

Evolution

The process through which modern organisms have descended from ancient ancestors.

Genetic Drift

A change in the frequency of genotypes from generation to generation, due to some chance event.

Natural Selection

Organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Gene Flow

The movement of individuals from one population to another, leading to a change in genetic frequency.

Speciation

The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.

Mammals

Warm-blooded vertebrates with hair or fur that typically bear live young.

Cetaceans

Aquatic mammals, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Anatomy

The structure of living organisms, often compared across species to study evolutionary relationships.

Embryology

The study of embryos and their development to explore evolutionary connections.

Fossils

Remains or impressions of ancient organisms preserved in rock, providing evidence of evolution over time.

Transposons

Segments of DNA that can move from one location to another within a genome, influencing genetic variation.

Directional Selection

A mode of natural selection where a single phenotype is favored, causing the allele frequency to continuously shift in one direction.

Adaptive Radiation

The process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

Allopatric Speciation

Speciation that occurs when populations are geographically isolated.

Sympatric Speciation

Speciation that occurs when populations evolve into distinct species while sharing the same habitat.

Artificial Selection

The process by which humans intentionally select for desirable traits in organisms.

Punctuated Equilibrium

The theory that evolutionary development is marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of little change.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.