Evolution Vocabulary - Biology

Anatomical Homology

Similar physical structures in different species due to common ancestry. e.g humans & cat limbs

Analogous Structure

Structures in different species that perform similar functions but do not share a common ancestral origin. e.g bird & butterfly wings

Ancestor

A forebear or preceding species from which others have evolved.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

Developmental Homology

Similarities in the embryonic development of different species that suggest a common ancestry.

DNA Sequence

The order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule that can provide insights into genetic relationships.

Embryo

An early stage of development in multicellular organisms, including humans and other animals.

Evolution

The process by which different kinds of living organisms have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the Earth.

Molecular Homology

Similarities in the molecular composition of different organisms that indicate common ancestry.

Native Species

Species that originate and occur naturally in a particular ecosystem.

Offspring

The product of reproduction, a new organism produced from one or more parents.

Phylogenetic

Relating to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms based on shared characteristics.

Dendrogram

A tree-like diagram that illustrates the arrangement of the clusters of related organisms.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another.

Genetic Drift

Random fluctuations in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to chance events.

Population Stability

A condition where a population's size remains relatively constant over time.

Punctuated Equilibrium

A theory that suggests species evolve in rapid bursts followed by long periods of stability.

Selection: Directional

A type of natural selection where one extreme phenotype is favored.

Selection: Disruptive

A type of natural selection that favors extreme values in a trait over intermediate values.

Selection: Stabilizing

A type of natural selection that favors average phenotypes and reduces variation.

Spindle Diagram

A chart that visually represents the distribution or frequency of certain traits in a population.