Evolution and Species

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to evolution, inheritance, and speciation as discussed in the lecture.

Inheritance

The process by which offspring inherit genes from their parents, which may occur through asexual or sexual reproduction.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that can result in variations of traits among offspring.

Evolution

The process by which populations accumulate changes over time, leading to new species.

Lamarckian Evolution

A theory proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, suggesting that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring.

Natural Selection

A mechanism of evolution where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the evolution of those traits.

Gene Pool

The total collection of genes in a population, including all alleles for each gene.

Genetic Drift

Changes in allele frequencies in a population due to random sampling, often most pronounced in small populations.

Bottleneck Effect

A significant reduction in population size that leads to a decrease in genetic diversity.

Founder Effect

A loss of genetic variation when a new population is established by a small number of individuals from a larger population.

Speciation

The process by which an ancestral species splits into two or more new species, often due to geographic or reproductive isolation.

Prezygotic Barriers

Reproductive barriers that prevent mating or fertilization between species before a zygote is formed.

Postzygotic Barriers

Reproductive barriers that occur after fertilization, preventing the hybrid offspring from developing into a viable adult.

Microevolution

Small, short-term evolutionary changes in gene pools that do not result in significant changes in species.

Macroevolution

Evolutionary changes that occur on a larger scale, leading to the emergence of new species over longer periods.