Evolutionary Theory

Adaptation

The process in which populations become better suited to the environment

Fitness

Ability of an organism to survive compared to other of the population

Mutation

Random alteration of the genetic code

Biogeography

Connection of species distribution according to geographical patterns

Genetic Diversity

Variance in a populations genotypes

Transitional features

Present within organisms connecting present-day species to ancestor species

Charles Darwin

created the theory of evolution

Homologous Structures/Homologies

Similar features across multiple species due to a common ancestor

Alfred Russell Wallace

theorized the theory of evolution along with Darwin

Fossils

remains of past species

Natural Selection

Process that choses traits that increase organism fitness

Variation

In a population’s phenotypes and alleles

Evolution

Change in a species allele frequency over time

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

theorized that evolution occurs due to the repeated use of a characteristic and is heritable

Vestigial Structures

Currently useless traits in an organism that previously had a purpose within an ancestor organism

Adaptations

inherited traits that help survival