Super last minute evolution studying

Evolution

A change in allele frequencies in a population over time

Fossil Record

Preserved markings of past life, usually found in sedimentary rock

Comparative Anatomy

Comparing traits of different species as evidence for evolution

Homologous Structures

Similar traits that are used by separate species that likely share a common ancestor

Analogous Structures

Similar traits in different species that were likely evolved separately

Comparative Embryology

Comparing the pre-born organisms of different species as evidence for evolution

Comparative Biochemistry

Comparing the macromolecules or DNA of different species to see what they have in common as evidence for evolution

Geographic Distribution

Observing the locations of different populations as evidence for evolution

Convergent Evolution

Unrelated species evolve with similar traits

Species

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring

Artificial Selection

Selective breeding of organisms for certain traits in the offspring

Natural Selection

Individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Fitness

The number of offspring an individual has

Stabilizing Selection

A pattern of natural selection that eliminates the extremes, assuming the average individual of a population will lead to a higher fitness

Directional Selection

A pattern of natural selection where allele frequencies shift in one direction

Disruptive Selection

A pattern of natural selection where a population is split into two groups and individuals who don’t fit into these groups don’t survive

Sexual Selection

A pattern of natural selection where an individual more attractive to the opposite sex is more likely to reproduce and pass on its genes

Speciation

Members of a species evolve so much that they are no longer able to produce fertile offspring

Allopatric Speciation

A kind of speciation where a physical barrier divides two populations so they cannot produce fertile offspring

Sympatric Speciation

A kind of speciation where a species evolves into a new species without a physical barrier from members of the previous speceis

Prezygotic Isolation

A type of isolation where gametes from a mother and father can never meet and fuse

Postzygotic Isolation

A type of isolation where a zygote cannot develop normally after two gametes meet

Habitat Isolation

A type of prezygotic barrier where two species live in the same area but not in the same habitat, so they cannot mate

Behavioral Isolation

A type of prezygotic barrier where members of different species have different mating and communication behaviors, so they cannot mate

Temporal Isolation

A type of prezygotic barrier where different species breed at different times, so they cannot mate

Mechanical Isolation

A type of prezygotic barrier where species may be anatomically incompatible with each other, so they cannot mate

Gametic Isolation

A type of prezygotic barrier where even if the gametes meet, they are unable to form a zygote, so they cannot mate successfully

Reduced Hybrid Viability

A type of postzygotic barrier where a zygote is form, but genetic incompatibility of the mother and father causes the zygote’s development to cease

Reduced Hybrid Fertility

A type of postzygotic barrier where even if two different species produce a viable offspring, that offspring cannot produce fertile offspring

Hybrid Breakdown

A type of postzygotic barrier where two species mate and produce viable and fertile hybrids, but the hybrids’ offspring are weak or sterile

Adaptive Radiation

Diversification of a species into a number of different species, usually in a short period of time and following a mass extinction event

Gradualism

A theory that evolution occurs in small, gradual steps over time

Punctuated Equilibrium

A theory that evolution occurs with relatively sudden periods of speciation followed by long periods of stabilty

Precambrian Eon

The period of time when earth and life were created (90% of earth’s history)

Phanerozoic Eon

The period of time including the Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, and Cenozoic (Current) Era

Paleozoic Era

The period of time when vertebrates, insects, and land plants first appeared. Also includes the Cambrian Explosion

Mesozoic Era

The period of time when dinosaurs, birds, and the first mammals appeared. Also includes the mass extinction of the dinosaurs

Cenozoic Era

The period of time when monkeys, apes, and modern humans appeared. AKA the current era.

Classification

The grouping of objects/organisms based on a set of criteria

Taxonomy

The science of identifying, naming, and classifying species based on natural relationships.