Darwin's Theory Flashcards

Flashcards about Darwin's Theory

Methodological Naturalism

World explained with laws of nature, not supernatural explanations (600 BC).

Hypothesis Testing

Explanations based on natural laws can be subject to empirical testing (300 BC).

Changing World

Recognition that species change over time from the study of plants & fossils (500 BC).

Uniformitarianism

The assumption that the processes currently operating are the same ones that have operated in the past; idea of gradual change.

Catastrophism

Geologic features arose through catastrophic, large-scale events rather than slow, gradual processes.

Modern Synthesis

Synthesis of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection with Mendel's genetics, laying the foundation for modern evolutionary biology.

Pattern of Evolution

Species arise from pre-existing species & common ancestors.

Mechanism of Evolution

Natural selection; explanation of how organisms change over time and why they are well-suited to their environment.

Artificial Selection

Breeders choose individuals with desired heritable traits as parents for the next generation.

Transformational Process

Properties of a population change because each individual changes (previous theories of evolution).

Variational Process

Properties of a population change because pre-existing variation is sorted (Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection).

Common Ancestry

Natural selection can generate multiple new species from a single ancestral species; provides an explanation for hierarchical patterns of similarity.