The Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts of evolution and natural selection as discussed in the lecture notes.

Theory of Evolution

A scientific explanation for the diversity of life based on natural selection and adaptation.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Sexual Reproduction

A biological process that combines genetic material from two parents, leading to increased genetic diversity.

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past, providing evidence for evolutionary change.

Microevolution

Small-scale evolutionary changes within a species or population, involving changes in allele frequencies.

Macroevolution

Large-scale evolutionary changes that occur over geological time, resulting in the formation of new species.

Extinction

The disappearance of a species when the last individual dies.

Gene Variation (Mutations)

Changes in the DNA sequence that can lead to new traits in offspring.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems across the planet.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features that share a common ancestry but may serve different functions.

Vestigial Structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.

Adaptation

A trait that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.

Reproductive Isolation

Biological barriers that prevent two populations from interbreeding, leading to speciation.

Speciation

The process through which new species arise from existing species due to genetic divergence.

Artificial Selection

The intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits by humans.

Molecular Evidence

Genetic comparisons that provide insight into the evolutionary relationships between species.

Selection Pressure

Environmental factors that influence which individuals survive and reproduce.

Favorable Variation

Traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and are more likely to be passed down to offspring.

Anatomical Structures

Physical features of organisms that can provide evidence of evolutionary relationships.

Evolutionary Theory

A framework that explains the mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection and genetic drift.

Darwin’s Observations

Findings from Darwin's studies that led to the formulation of natural selection.

Transitional Fossils

Fossils that exhibit traits common to both an ancestral group and its derived descendant group.