Characteristics of Life & Introduction to Evolution

A collection of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes covering fundamental biology concepts related to characteristics of life, evolution, and color vision.

Characteristics of Life

All living organisms share five distinctive features: they are cellular, they evolve, they process information, they use energy, and they reproduce.

Cell Theory

A fundamental theory in biology stating that all living organisms are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life.

Theory of Evolution

A comprehensive explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, primarily attributed to the process of natural selection and descent with modification from common ancestors.

Natural Selection

The process through which traits that enhance survival and reproduction in a given environment become more common in successive generations of a population.

Dichromatic Vision

A type of color vision characterized by the presence of two types of cone cells in the retina, common in some New World monkeys and indicating limited color discrimination.

Trichromatic Vision

A type of color vision involving three types of cone cells, allowing for the perception of a broader spectrum of colors, typical in most humans and some Old World monkeys.

Heritable Characteristics

Traits that are transmitted from parents to offspring through genetic information.

Artificial Selection

The intentional breeding of organisms by humans to cultivate desirable traits, which often leads to increased agricultural productivity.

Evolution

A change in the traits of populations over time due to mechanisms like natural selection, genetic drift, and mutations.

Color Vision

The ability to perceive differences in wavelengths of light as different colors, involving specialized photoreceptor cells in the retina.