Bio

Evolution

Change in the genetic makeup of a population over time.

Species and Population

Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed; Population: a group of individuals of the same species in a given area.

Convergent Evolution

Different species evolve similar traits due to similar environments; no recent common ancestor.

Divergent Evolution

Related species evolve different traits due to adapting to different environments; have a common ancestor.

Natural Selection

Process by which individuals with favorable traits survive and reproduce more successfully.

Artificial Selection

Human-driven breeding of organisms to produce desired traits.

Charles Darwin ('Origin of Species')

Published the theory of natural selection and evolution in 1859.

Variation

Differences among individuals in a population.

Adaptation

Inherited trait that increases an organism's chance of survival and reproduction.

Fitness

Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Heritability

Ability of a trait to be passed from parent to offspring.

Homologous Structures

Structures that are similar in structure but different in function; evidence of common ancestry.

Analogous Structures

Structures that are different in structure but similar in function; no recent common ancestor.

Vestigial Structures

Body structures that have lost their original function through evolution.

Fossil Record

Chronological collection of fossils showing changes in species over time.

Gene Pool

The combined genetic information of all the members of a particular population.

Mutation

Random change in a DNA sequence that affects genetic information.

Genetic Drift

Random change in allele frequencies in a population, especially small populations.

Gene Flow

Movement of alleles from one population to another.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

States that allele frequencies in a population remain constant if no evolution is occurring; p + q = 1 and p² + 2pq + q² = 1.

Extinction

The permanent loss of all members of a species.

Falsifiable

A scientific hypothesis must be testable and able to be proven wrong.

What scientist proposed the theory of natural selection?

Charles Darwin

Which concept states that allele frequencies remain constant unless acted upon by outside forces?

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

What is an example of an adaptation?

A rabbit with large ears to release heat

What type of structure is a whale's flipper compared to a human arm?

Homologous structure

Which process is random and affects small populations most?

Genetic Drift

The movement of alleles between populations is called:

Gene Flow

What type of evolution happens when unrelated species develop similar traits?

Convergent Evolution

What is it called when humans breed plants or animals for certain traits?

Artificial Selection

A structure in an organism that no longer serves its original purpose is called a:

Vestigial Structure

What is the total collection of genes in a population called?

Gene Pool

What causes a new allele to appear in a population?

Mutation

If p + q = 1, what do p and q represent?

Frequencies of dominant and recessive alleles

Which of the following would be considered falsifiable?

A hypothesis that can be tested and proven wrong

What helped Darwin develop his theory during his voyage on the HMS Beagle?

Observations of species' adaptations to different environments

Which type of evolution causes two closely related species to become more different over time?

Divergent Evolution

What type of structure is the wing of a butterfly and the wing of a bird?

Analogous Structure