Evolution and Historical Perspectives

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to evolution, historical figures, and theories that have shaped our understanding of biological science.

Descent with modification

The concept that living species are descendants of ancestral species that were distinct from present-day ones.

Catastrophism

The theory that past events occurred suddenly and were driven by mechanisms different from those at work today.

Gradualism

The model that proposes change occurs through the cumulative effect of slow but continuous processes.

Uniformitarianism

The principle that geological processes occurring now are the same as those that occurred in the past, allowing for gradual changes in the earth.

Lamarck's Law of Use and Disuse

The idea that body parts that are used extensively become stronger, while those that are not used weaken and deteriorate.

Species Concept

The classification method developed by John Ray, using species as the basic unit for taxonomy.

Scala Naturae

Aristotle's idea of a 'ladder of life,' where life forms could be arranged according to their complexity.

Binomial nomenclature

A two-part naming system developed by Carolus Linnaeus for classifying species, such as Homo sapiens for humans.

Inheritance of Acquired Traits

Lamarck's theory that characteristics acquired during an individual's lifetime can be passed on to offspring.

Fossil record

The preserved remains or traces of organisms that provide evidence of past life and evolutionary changes.

Geological time scale

A timeline used by geologists and paleontologists to describe the timing and relationships of events in Earth's history.

Extinction

The end of an organism or a group of organisms, often referenced in the context of mass extinction events.

Paleontology

The scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.

Vestigial structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through the course of evolution.

Charles Lyell

A geologist who built on Hutton’s work and supported the idea that mechanisms of change are constant over time.

Georges Cuvier

A paleontologist who advocated for catastrophism and contributed significantly to the study of fossils.