Evolution and Natural Selection

These flashcards cover key concepts related to evolution and natural selection, helping to understand the major ideas and terms in this area of biology.

Evolution

The change in characteristics of a species over multiple generations.

Common Ancestor

Organisms descend from a common ancestor and become different species through speciation.

Biochemical Evidence

Genetic code similarities among organisms indicate closely related species.

Fossil Record

Remains or traces of organisms that lived long ago, showing changes in life on Earth.

Vestigial Structures

Structures passed on by ancestors that have reduced functionality in modern species.

Embryology

The study of embryo development in different species, indicating common ancestry.

Natural Selection

The process where nature selects for or against traits in a population based on environmental pressures.

Genetic Variation

The different versions of a trait within a population, contributing to diversity.

Survival of the Fittest

Individuals with beneficial variations survive and reproduce more successfully.

Adaptation

A trait common in a population that provides a beneficial function in current environmental conditions.

Directional Selection

Natural selection favors one extreme variation, making it more common.

Stabilizing Selection

Natural selection favors the intermediate states of variations, making them more common.

Disruptive Selection

Natural selection favors both extreme variations, potentially leading to new species.

Speciation

The process by which a group of organisms becomes a new species due to reproductive isolation.

Reproductive Isolation

Inability of two species to interbreed, which can occur through various mechanisms.

Artificial Selection

Humans selecting desirable traits in plants or animals to breed them.

Sexual Selection

An organism's ability to find and reproduce with a mate, influenced by attractiveness and competition.