Introduction to Molecular Evolution BSCI 2210 (Session 36)

A series of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the Introduction to Molecular Evolution lecture.

Evolution

The process by which all living things on Earth today have been derived from a common ancestor.

Natural selection

The mechanism of evolution through differential survival and reproduction rates.

Allele frequency

The relative frequency of an allele at a genetic locus in a population.

Microfossils

Fossils of microscopic organisms, used as evidence for the age of living things.

Stromatolites

Layered structures formed by the activity of microbial mats, significant in understanding early life.

Phonetic tree

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between different organisms.

Endosymbiosis

The theory that certain organelles, like mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from free-living bacteria.

Horizontal gene transfer

The transfer of genetic material between organisms other than through vertical inheritance.

RNA world hypothesis

The proposal that self-replicating ribonucleic acid (RNA) was a key precursor to current life.

Prokaryotic

Referring to cells that lack a nucleus and other organelles, often considered primitive.

Catalytic activity

The ability of a molecule, like RNA, to catalyze chemical reactions.

Eukaryotes

Organisms composed of one or more cells that have a nucleus and organelles, distinct from prokaryotes.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Telomerase

An enzyme that adds nucleotides to the ends of chromosomes, maintaining telomeres during replication.

Phylogenetics

The study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities, often using genetic data.

Phylogenetic analysis

A method used to infer the evolutionary relationships and patterns of descent among organisms.