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Evolution
the change in inherited traits over successive generations in populations of organisms. This allows organisms to adapt and survive in their environment
Fossil Records
are traces of organisms that lived in the past and were preserved by natural process or catastrophic events. It documents the existence of now-extinct species that are related to present-day species
Imprints
shallow external molds left by animals or plant tissues with little or no organic materials present
Compressions
are animals or plant tissues preserved in sedimentary rock and is framed with more organic material
Relative Dating
the age of rock is compared to the other rock layers
Radiometric or Radioactive Dating
methods used to determine the age of rocks using the decay of radioactive isotopes of carbon 14 which is present in rocks when the organism died
Comparative Anatomy
study of the similarities and differences in the structure of different species
Homologous Structures
It is related to Divergent evolution where specific species have common ancestors but they adapt different traits and functions.
Analogous Structures
It is related to Convergent evolution which means 2 or similar species evolve similar traits despite having different ancestors.
Vestigial Structures
body parts that are useless of leftover from a previous ancestor in which they were useful
Embryonic Development
the portion of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization. Many organisms have similar embryos, supporting the idea of common ancestors
Genetic Information
small mutations or changes in the DNA eventually lead to the evolution of new species
Catastrophism (Werner/Cuvier)
this states that the earth and geological events had formed suddenly as a result of some catastrophe.
Uniformitarianism (Hutton/Lyell)
tells us that the earth has always changed in uniform ways and that the present is the key to the past
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
develops one of the first theories on how species changed. He concluded that organisms of higher complexity had evolved from pre-existing, less-complex organisms
Theory of Need
organisms change because they need to, for an organism to evolve a structure, it must need the structure
Theory of Use and Disuse
if you don't use it, you lose it. Organisms develop specialized characteristics by the use and disuse of organs
Theory of Acquired Characteristics
if a parent acquires body structure during its lifetime, it would pass on that characteristic structure to its offspring
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
proposed an entirely different mechanism to account for the evolution of species. His theory of evolution by natural selection became the foundation of modern evolutionary studies.
Darwin's Finches
he was able to see 13 varieties of finches which varied in size and shape, from island to island. It took him 20 years to organize the data
The Origin of Species
the book that is written by Charles Darwin. In this book, he presented his theory of evolution based on natural selection
Natural Selection
individuals within a population with the most favorable traits for an environment survive and pass in those traits
Species Overproduction
organisms that tend to overproduce
Competition
there is a struggle of existence and the survival of the fittest. Living space and food are limited
Variation
No 2 individuals are the same. Plants and animals of the same species differ in size, strength, and adaptive structures
Adaptation
a process of becoming better suited to the environment and improve on organisms chance of survival
Natural Selection
environment selects organisms that survived to be the parents of the succeeding generations
Speciation
favorable adaptation gradually accumulate in the species and unfavorable ones disappear
Archaeopteryx
between reptile and birds
Eusthenopteron
amphibious fish
Seymouria
reptile-like amphibian
Mold
buried organism disappears and leaves an empty space
Cast
mold filled by minerals (replica of organism)
Petrification
minerals replace hard parts (bones, teeth, etc.) of organism
Amber
entire organism fossilized in tree sap
Frozen
entire organism frozen in ice
Trace
footprints, trails, etc.