Introduction to Evolutionary Biology

A collection of vocabulary-related flashcards based on the fundamentals of evolutionary biology.

Evolution

A gradual change in populations of organisms over time; specifically defined as a change in allele frequencies from one generation to the next.

Natural Selection

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

Allele Frequencies

Proportion of different alleles in a population, used to measure evolution.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism, influenced by both genetics and environment.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual, determining potential traits.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.

Differential Reproductive Success

The concept that some individuals will reproduce more successfully than others based on their traits.

Standing Genetic Variation

The variation in a population that can provide the raw material for natural selection.

Fitness

The reproductive success of an individual relative to others in the population.

Speciation

The process through which new species arise from existing species.

Artificial Selection

The intentional breeding of organisms by humans for desirable traits.

Social Darwinism

A misapplication of Darwinian principles to social and political issues, often justifying inequality.

Theory (in science)

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of evidence.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or educated guess about the relationship between variables.

Heritability

The proportion of variation in a trait that can be attributed to genetic differences.

Adaptation

A trait that increases the fitness of an organism in a particular environment.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often having significant effects in small populations.

Sexual Selection

A process where certain traits increase in frequency because they improve mating success.