evolution

Mutation

Mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

natural selection

A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.

artificial selection

Selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms

sexual selection

when individuals select mates based on heritable traits

homologous structures

Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry.

Vestigial Remnants

The degenerative remains of any structure which served as a functioning entity in the embryo or fetus

geographic distribution of living species

species evolve differently in different environments . different species evolve similarly in the same type of environment

Evolution

Change over time

example of natural selection

A dark moth does better when in a dark environment and we see more dark moths over time.

example of artificial selection

breeding dogs

example of sexual selection

Peacock Feathers - Male peacocks have long colorful feathers to attract mates while females don't have that

Speciation

the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

founding population

a group of individuals (or seeds) that colonize and establish a new population

reproductive isolation

Separation of species or populations so that they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring

fossil record

information about past life, including the structure of organisms, what they ate, what ate them, in what environment they lived, and the order in which they lived

Embryology

study of embryos and their development

Genetic similarities

the best evidence of evolution (includes similar DNA and amino acid sequences); if two species have a lot of DNA in common, they likely evolved from a common ancestor

Evidence of Evolution

1. Fossil Record

2. Embryology

3. Homologous Structures

4. DNA

5. Vestigial Structures

convergent evolution

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

Mutations are

random, unpredictable