Introduction to Evolution

These flashcards cover key concepts related to evolution, natural selection, and antibiotic resistance as discussed in the lecture.

Scientific Theory

A hypothesis that continues to hold up after many years of rigorous testing and is supported by a significant body of evidence, having never been disproved.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living together in the same geographic area.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with inherited characteristics that make them more likely to survive and reproduce are favored, leading to changes in a population over generations.

Allele Frequency

The proportion of a particular allele among all allele copies in a population, which changes due to evolutionary mechanisms.

Fitness

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment, influencing allele frequency over generations.

Evolution

A change in allele frequency in a population over time.

Camouflage

A trait that allows individuals to avoid predators, increasing their chances to survive and reproduce.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed resistance to antibiotic drugs, causing serious infections.

Antibiotics

Chemicals that kill bacteria or slow their growth by interfering with essential functions of bacterial cells.

Descent with Modification

The principle that each generation can change characteristics of a population, leading to evolution.