Evolution and Phylogenetics Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about evidence of evolution, cladograms, and phylogenetics.

Fossil Record

The collection of all fossils that have been discovered across the entire Earth, showing gradual changes in the skeletons of organisms over time.

Significance of the Fossil Record

Provides a picture of how species have changed over time by showing gradual changes in organism skeletons.

DNA Sequences

The order of bases that appear in a sequence for a specific protein.

Significance of DNA Sequences in Evolution

Closely related species have almost identical DNA sequences for proteins; fewer differences indicate closer relationships.

Comparative Anatomy

The comparison of physical structures of organisms to identify common ancestry based on similarities and differences.

Significance of Comparative Anatomy

Helps identify common ancestry based on similarities and differences in physical structures of organisms.

Homologous Structures

Same structure, different function; evidence of evolution and share a common ancestor.

Analogous Structures

Different structure, same function; unrelated species evolved similar traits due to similar environments.

Vestigial Structures

Leftover structures that used to have a function in a common ancestor.

Comparative Embryology

The comparison of the embryological development of species.

Significance of Comparative Embryology

Reveals similarities in development not seen in fully developed adults.

Phylogenetic Trees

A visual representation of common ancestry and evolution.

Significance of Phylogenetic Trees

Shows how closely organisms are related to each other and when different traits evolved throughout life history.

Node (Phylogenetic Tree)

Represents the last common ancestor for all species that evolved after that node.

Branch (Phylogenetic Tree)

Shows evolution of different species after a specific node.

Cladogram

Diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms

Root (Phylogenetic Tree)

The base of the phylogenetic tree representing the most distant ancestor in the tree.

Taxon

A group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen as forming a unit.

Ingroup

The group of organisms being studied in a phylogenetic analysis.

Outgroup

A group of organisms that are closely related to, but not part of, the ingroup.

Phylogenetics

The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.

Amino Acid Differences

Differences in the amino acid sequences of proteins between different species, used to infer evolutionary relationships.

Most Recent Common Ancestor

The most recent individual from which all the organisms in a group are directly descended.

Evolution

The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

Vestigial Structure Example

The human appendix, a reduced structure with little to no present function but was important for digestion in ancestral species.

Homologous Structure Example

The arm of a human, the wing of a bird, and the fin of a whale all have similar bone structure.

Analogous Structure Example

The wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird.

Clade

A group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor.

Derived Trait

A trait that is present in a group of organisms but was not present in the last common ancestor.

Ancestral Trait

A trait shared by all members of a group and their common ancestor.

Tetrapod

A four-footed animal, especially a vertebrate.

Amniote

A clade of tetrapod vertebrates comprising the reptiles, birds, and mammals that lay their eggs on land or retain the fertilized egg within the mother.

Vertebrate

An animal having a backbone, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

Embryo

An unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of a kind of organism.

Warm-blooded

Having a body temperature that remains relatively constant, regardless of the surrounding environmental temperature.

Hair

A filamentous outgrowth from the skin of mammals.

Amniotic Egg

An egg with a shell and extraembryonic membranes that forms an amnion around the embryo; characteristic of reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Four Limbs

Having four limbs (legs, arms, wings, or fins); a characteristic of tetrapods.

Lungs

Respiratory organs used for breathing air.

Backbone

A series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis, providing support and protecting the spinal cord.

Taxonomy

The branch of science concerned with classification, especially of organisms; systematics.

Binomial Nomenclature

The system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet.

Morphology

The study of the forms of things, in particular.

Convergent Evolution

The process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Divergent Evolution

The process whereby groups from the same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences, resulting in the formation of new species.