Darwinian Evolution Lecture Review

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to Darwinian evolution, natural selection, and mechanisms of evolution discussed in the lecture.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than individuals with other traits.

Evolution

The change in the genetic composition of a population over time.

Descent with Modification

Darwin's phrase for evolution, describing how present-day species are the descendants of ancient ancestors.

Genetic Drift

A change in the gene pool of a population due to chance events that cause certain alleles to be over or underrepresented.

Bottleneck Effect

A drastic reduction in population size that results in a loss of genetic diversity.

Founder Effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a population, leading to a different allele frequency than the original population.

Allele Frequency

How often an allele appears in a population's gene pool.

Evolutionary Adaptation

Changes in a population that increase the frequency of traits that are favorable in a given environment.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry.

Molecular Biology

The study of the molecular basis of biological activity, providing evidence for evolution through genetic comparisons.

Vestigial Structures

Remnants of features that once served important functions in the ancestor.

Comparative Anatomy

The comparison of body structures in different species to understand evolutionary relationships.

Biogeography

The study of the geographic distribution of species, providing insight into how species evolve over time.

Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection

A theory based on observations that individuals with traits best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Relative Fitness

The contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation, in comparison to the contributions of other individuals.

Sexual Selection

A form of natural selection where individuals with certain traits are more likely to attract mates.