A process that occurs in terms of individuals but is defined in terms of populations.
New cards
3
Charles Darwin
A scientist whose work greatly contributed to our understanding of evolution.
New cards
4
Offspring competition
The competition among offspring for limited resources.
New cards
5
Variability
The existence of differences among organisms in a population.
New cards
6
Fitness
The measure of evolutionary success based on reproductive success.
New cards
7
Favorable traits
Traits that increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction.
New cards
8
Heritability
The likelihood of passing traits to subsequent generations.
New cards
9
Biotic factors
Living factors that can influence evolutionary fitness.
New cards
10
Abiotic factors
Non-living factors that can influence evolutionary fitness.
New cards
11
Paleontology
The study of fossils to reveal the various organisms and major lines of evolution.
New cards
12
Fossil Dating
The process of determining the age of a fossil by analyzing the age of the rocks where it was found, the rate of decay of isotopes, or geographical data.
New cards
13
Biogeography
The study of the distribution of flora and fauna in the environment, which has revealed related species in widely separated regions of the world.
New cards
14
Embryology
The study of the development of an organism, which has revealed that all vertebrates show fish-like features called gill slits.
New cards
15
Morphological Homologies
The study of the anatomy of various animals, which has revealed that some animals have similar structures that serve different functions. Homologous structures point to a common ancestor, while analogous structures evolved independently.
New cards
16
Molecular Biology
The study of biological molecules, which has provided the most compelling proof of evolution through the similarity at the molecular level.
New cards
17
Continuing Evolution
The ongoing process of evolution, which can be observed through small changes in DNA and changes in the fossil record over time.
New cards
18
Phylogenetic trees
Charts used to study relationships between organisms, built using data from the fossil record or molecular record.
New cards
19
Genetic variability
Differences in people, the foundation of evolution, allows for natural selection to occur.
New cards
20
Causes of evolution
Natural selection requires genetic variation and environmental pressure, biotic and abiotic factors can affect the direction of evolution.
New cards
21
Divergent evolution
When populations become reproductively isolated from each other due to different variation and environmental pressures, they could each change in different ways and no longer be able to mate.
New cards
22
Convergent evolution
The process by which two unrelated and dissimilar species come to have similar traits, often because they have been exposed to similar selective pressures.
New cards
23
Speciation
The process by which populations become different species, can occur through allopatric or sympatric speciation.
New cards
24
Pre-zygotic barriers
Prevent fertilization between individuals of different species.
New cards
25
Post-zygotic barriers
Related to the inability of a hybrid organism to produce offspring.
New cards
26
Directional selection
Occurs when natural selection favors one extreme of a trait, leading to a shift in the population towards that extreme.
New cards
27
Artificial selection
A type of selection where humans directly affect variation in other species.
New cards
28
RNA-world hypothesis
The hypothesis that the original life-forms were simply molecules of RNA.
New cards
29
Primitive Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth in its early stages, which contained mostly inorganic molecules and was rich in gases like methane, ammonia, hydrogen, and water.
Studied by 18 people
Note 
Flashcard (85)