4- Phylogeny, Fossils, and the History of Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential concepts related to phylogeny, fossils, and evolutionary history.

Fossil Record

A direct record of evolutionary history that provides evidence of past life and the succession of organisms over time.

Phylogenetic Tree

A diagram that depicts the evolutionary relationships among various species, based on shared derived characteristics.

Shared Derived Characters

Traits that are present in a group of organisms but not in their ancestors, used to construct phylogenetic trees.

Monophyletic Group

A group that consists of a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Paraphyletic Group

A group that includes some, but not all, descendants of a common ancestor.

Polyphyletic Group

A group that consists of members from multiple ancestral lines but does not include their most recent common ancestor.

Synapomorphies

Shared derived characters that indicate shared evolutionary ancestry, crucial for constructing phylogenetic trees.

Homology

Similarity in characteristics resulting from shared ancestry.

Analogy

Similarity in characteristics due to convergent evolution, not shared ancestry.

Cladistics

A method of classifying species based on shared derived characteristics.

Sister Groups

Two taxa that are more closely related to each other than to any other groups.

Node

A branching point on a phylogenetic tree representing a common ancestor.

Descent with Modification

The principle that species evolve over time from common ancestors with changes.

Mass Extinction

A widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth, often triggering significant evolutionary changes.

Radiometric Dating

A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils through the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Transitional Fossils

Fossils that show intermediate traits between groups of organisms, illustrating the evolutionary process.

Phylogeny

The historical development and evolutionary relationships among species.

Tree of Life

A comprehensive representation of the evolutionary history of all living organisms.

Convergent Evolution

The independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages.

Nesting Pattern of Similarity

The remarkable visible connections and similarities among different species that reflect their evolutionary paths.

Morphological Features

Physical structural characteristics used to differentiate and classify organisms.

Molecular Data

Genetic information (like DNA sequences) used to infer evolutionary relationships.