Macroevolution

evolution

the change in the genetic makeup of a population over time with natural selection its major driving mechanism.

natural selection

theory that an organism can pass on characteristics that it has acquired during its lifetime to its offspring; one of the mechanisms for evolution

acquired traits

a non-heritable change in a function or structure that is developed in their lifetime and after birth

species

a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce offspring

genetic variation

the differences in genes within a population; new traits appear through random mutation of the genome

descent with modification

species change over time and pass on traits from parent to offspring

Lamarck

believed traits are acquired based on use and need

Darwin

believed traits are passed down based on differential survival and reproduction

fitness

ability to survive and reproduce

adaptation

heritable characteristics that increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in an environment

principle of common descent

idea that all living things have common attributes and arose from a common ancestor

homologous structure

similarities in anatomy due to having a common ancestor, but often a different function; result of divergent evolution

analogous structure

similarities in function due to environment, but do not have a common ancestor; result of convergent evolution

vestigial traits

characteristics that remain in an organism despite not having use for them

embryology

similarities in development of an embryo

fossil record

history of life as documented by fossils

transitional forms

the intermediate state between an ancestral trait and its later descendants (traits are said to be homologous between ancestors/descendants)

behavioral adaptations

actions an organism takes to survive (ex. migration)

physiological adaptations

traits that involve the internal functions or chemistry of an organism (ex. enzymes)

physical adaptations

body structures that help an organism survive (ex. fur)

convergent evolution

process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

divergent evolution

process by which species sharing a common ancestry become more different due to different environments (includes adaptive radiation)

speciation

the formation of new and distinct species so that original groups will no longer interbreed

behavioral isolation

form of reproductive isolation in which two populations develop different courtship routines or other behaviors that prevents them from breeding

temporal isolation

form of reproductive isolation in which two populations develop different reproduction times, seasons, or years that prevent them from breeding

geographic isolation

form of reproductive isolation in which two populations are separated by geographic barriers, leading to the formation of two separate species

gradualism

the evolution of species by gradual accumulation of small genetic changes over long periods of time

punctuated equilibrium

the evolution of species driven by isolated episodes of rapid selection between long periods of no change

adaptive radiation

the diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.

niche

An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.

survival of the fittest

the best adapted will survive and reproduce

coevolution

Process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other (ex. predator/prey, mutualism, parasitism)

evidence of evolution

1) Fossil Record

2) Embryology

3) Homologous Structures

4) DNA (best source)

5) Vestigial Structures

Principles of Natural Selection

variation, limited resources, adaptation, descent with modification