Evolution - Science Term 4

OLMC Science Yr.10

Variation

Differences in traits between individuals of the same species necessary for evolution.

Acquired traits

Traits gained during an individual's lifetime.

Genetic traits

Traits passed down by genes from one generation to the next.

Mutation

Small changes in the DNA sequences that can create new alleles.

Phenotype

The physical appearance of an individual, influenced by genetic traits.

Adaptations

Mutations that lead to variations aiding an organism's survival.

Biological evolution

Change in the genetic traits of populations over generations.

Population

A group of individuals of a single species living in a specific area.

Gene Flow

Migration of individuals from one population to another, introducing new phenotypes.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in populations due to chance events.

Natural Selection

Process where individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, including species and genetic diversity.

Extinction

The death of all members of a species.

Mass extinctions

Catastrophic events leading to the extinction of many species.

Transitional Fossils

Fossils that show intermediate traits between ancestral and descendant species.

Relative Dating

Determining the order of age of fossils without finding their precise age.

Absolute Dating

Providing a precise estimate of a fossil's age using radioisotopes.

Analogous Structures

Structures serving the same function in different organisms but not inherited from a common ancestor.

Homologous Structures

Structures that are similar due to inheritance from a common ancestor, despite having different functions.

Vestigial Structures

Structures that no longer perform a function but remain in a species.

Comparative Embryology

Study of similarities in the developing embryos of different species suggestive of a common ancestor.

Biogeography

The study of the geographical distribution of organisms that explains the formation of new species due to continental drift.

Molecular Biology

Comparing DNA and protein similarities to determine relatedness among species.

Artificial Selection

Humans selecting individuals with desirable traits for breeding, affecting genetic diversity.

Speciation

The process by which new species are formed from an original ancestral species.