EVOLUTION

Evolution

A scientific explanation for species diversity, similarities, and extinction, describing how species change over time.

Lamarck's Theory

An early evolutionary model proposed by Lamarck, suggesting organisms strive for improvement, leading to acquired traits being inherited.

Striving for Improvement

Lamarck's idea that organisms have an innate drive to enhance themselves.

Principle of Use and Disuse

Lamarck's concept that frequently used organs become stronger while unused organs may degenerate.

Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics

Lamarck's notion that traits acquired during an organism's life can be passed down to offspring.

Darwin's Voyage

The journey of Charles Darwin on the H.M.S. Beagle, leading to critical discoveries in the Galapagos Islands.

On the Origin of Species

Darwin's 1859 publication detailing his findings and the theory of natural selection.

Natural Selection

Darwin's theory explaining species similarities and differences based on survival and reproduction of advantageous traits.

Overproduction

One of the assumptions of natural selection where species produce many offspring in ideal conditions.

Competition

The struggle for survival when food and space are scarce, leading to the survival of the fittest.

Survival of the Fittest

The concept that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Reproduction

The passing of advantageous traits to offspring, contributing to descent with modification.

Speciation

The process by which cumulative changes over generations lead to the formation of new species from an ancestral one.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features that are similar in structure but serve different functions across species.

Vestigial Organs

Non-functional organs in an organism related to functional ones in other species (e.g., human tailbone).

Analogous Structures

Different structures in unrelated species that serve similar functions (e.g., bat wings and butterfly wings).

Embryonic Development

Similarities observed in embryonic stages among various vertebrates indicating genetic relatedness.

Biochemical Similarities

Common biochemical processes and components indicating ancestral relationships among species.

Fossil Record

Evidence of historical transformations between contemporary organisms and their ancestors through fossils.

Biogeographical Evidence

Geological movement and its impact on species distribution, supporting the concept of common ancestry.

Divergent Evolution

The process where related species develop distinct forms, supported by various forms of anatomical evidence.

Convergent Evolution

When unrelated species develop similar adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures.

Punctuated Equilibrium

The theory that species remain stable for long periods, with significant changes following environmental shifts.

Gradualism

Darwin's proposition that evolutionary changes occur gradually over long periods.

Geographic Isolation

A process where a population is divided by geographical barriers, leading to speciation.

Genetic Drift

The random changes in gene frequency, especially significant in small populations.

Founder Effect

A reduction in genetic diversity that occurs when a small subset of a population establishes a new population.

Bottleneck Effect

A sharp reduction in population size that influences the genetic variability of the surviving population.

Artificial Selection

Human-directed breeding practices to enhance specific traits in domesticated species.

Selective Breeding

A method of breeding used to improve certain traits in plants and animals.

Domestication

The process of selectively breeding wild species to produce varieties suited for human use.

Adaptations

Inherited characteristics that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Morphological Adaptations

Structural features that affect an organism's form or structure, aiding in survival.

Physiological Adaptations

Changes in metabolic processes that improve survival and reproduction.

Behavioral Adaptations

Changes in behavior that increase chances of survival and reproduction in an organism.

Notochord

A flexible rod-like structure present during the embryonic development of all vertebrates.

Gill Slits

Structures in embryonic development stages of vertebrates, which may disappear in some species.

Cytochrome C

An essential protein found across diverse species, indicating common ancestry.

Warning Coloration

A form of morphological adaptation where bright colors signal potential danger to predators.

Mimicry

An adaptation where one species evolves to resemble another for protection or advantage.

Camouflage

An adaptation that allows an organism to blend into its environment, avoiding detection.

Hibernation

A behavioral adaptation where animals enter a state of dormancy during harsh environmental conditions.