Lecture on Macroevolution

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from a lecture on macroevolution, focusing on key terms and definitions relevant to the topic.

Macroevolution

Evolutionary change above the species level, including the origin of new groups of organisms and large-scale evolutionary trends.

Fossil Record

The history of life documented by fossils that reveals changes in organisms over time.

Radiometric Dating

A method used to determine the absolute ages of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Adaptive Radiation

The evolution of diversely adapted species from a common ancestor, often following mass extinctions or the colonization of new regions.

Extinction

The end of an organism or a group of organisms, typically caused by environmental changes or catastrophic events.

Plate Tectonics

The scientific theory that explains the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates and the resulting geological phenomena.

Cambrian Explosion

A period of rapid evolutionary development during the Cambrian, characterized by the emergence of many animal phyla.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and organelles enclosed within membranes, distinguishing them from prokaryotic cells.

Mass Extinction

An event in which a significant percentage of the Earth's species become extinct over a relatively short period.