Introduction to Evolution

A set of vocabulary flashcards relevant to the topic of evolution, covering key terms and definitions.

Evolution

The gradual process where the heritable characteristics of a population change over time.

Heritable characteristic

A genetic trait that can be passed down from parent to offspring.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same geographical area at the same time and can reproduce.

Gene

A unit of heredity. A segment of DNA that codes for an amino acid that is part of a polypeptide chain that expresses a trait.

Allele

A version of a gene at the same locus.

Gene pool

All alleles present in a population.

Natural Selection

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Lamarckism

Early evolutionary theory proposed by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, suggesting that organisms alter behavior in response to environmental changes, and these modifications are inherited.

Adaptive Radiation

The process whereby organisms diversify rapidly into a multitude of forms to adapt to different environments.

Darwinism

The theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing natural selection as the mechanism of evolution.