BIOL 101: The Origin of Species

A set of flashcards focused on key vocabulary and concepts related to speciation and phylogenetics in biology.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Geographical barrier

A physical separation that blocks gene flow between populations, leading to isolation.

Reproductive isolation

A condition where different populations can no longer interbreed, often resulting from adaptation to different environments.

Allopatric speciation

Speciation that occurs when populations are geographically isolated from one another.

Sympatric speciation

Speciation that occurs without geographical isolation, often through genetic or behavioral changes.

Cladistics

A method of classifying organisms based on common ancestry using shared derived characters.

Clade

A group of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Shared derived character

A trait that is unique to a clade, also known as a synapomorphy.

Branch point

A point in a phylogenetic tree where a lineage splits into two or more lineages.

Phylogenetic tree

A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Molecular systematics

The use of molecular data, including DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, to determine evolutionary relationships.

Shared ancestral characteristics

Traits that are shared by all members of a group, reflecting common ancestry.

Motility

The ability of an organism to move independently, commonly seen in bacteria.

Polyploidy

A condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes, often leading to speciation in plants.

Shared derived character for Bacteria A, B, D

Makes adhesins, a trait that specifies these organisms' evolutionary relationships.

Reproductive barriers

Factors that prevent different species from mating successfully.

Adaptation

A trait that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.

Evolutionary history

The sequence of events and changes that have led to the present diversity of life.

Genome

The complete set of DNA, including all its genes, in an organism.

Genetic similarity

The degree of genetic overlap between different species, often indicating their evolutionary relationship.