Biology FlashCards

Plato

Believed that objects on earth were a temporary reflection of their divinely inspired “ideal form”

Aristotle

Believed that species were fixed creations that didn’t change over time. He arranged all organisms on a linear scale of increasing complexity known as the “Ladder of Nature”

Carl Linnaeus

Developed a system to classify organisms using binomial nomenclature (Genus species)

George Louis LeClerc (Comte de Buffon)

Thought a small number of created species evolved through natural processes to the present large and diverse number. The vast numbers of new species found allowed naturalists like Buffon to see new patterns

William Smith

A British surveyor who noticed that certain fossils were always found in the same layers of rock. He concluded that different types of organisms had lived at different times in the past. This also countered the view of one fixed unchanging creation

Georges Cuvier

A French naturalist and paleontologist who established extinction as a fact and contributed to the study of fossils and comparative anatomy. He proposed the theory of catastrophism, suggesting that Earth's geology and life have changed due to sudden, short-lived events.

James Hutton

A Scottish geologist who proposed a process called gradualism or the slow continuous cycles of erosion and uplift (unlike catastrophism) Weather causes erosion which forms sediments Sediments form rock which often contain fossils Changes in the Earth’s crust can then uplift this rock to higher land Explains sea fossils found on mountain tops

Charles Lyell

Lyell developed the idea called uniformitarianism Lyell’s book Principles of Geology suggested Hutton’s gradualism happened at a uniform rate Both geologists argued that the earth is many millions of years old (not 6000 years old) Modern geologists estimate that the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old

Jean Baptiste Lamarck

A French biologist known for his early theory of evolution, proposing that organisms adapt to their environment through use and disuse of traits, which can be inherited by their offspring. His ideas laid groundwork for later evolutionary theories.

Thomas Malthus

A socioeconomist who suggested that human population growth would be limited by resources He observed that babies were being born faster than people were dying He reasoned that eventually there would be insufficient living space and food for everyone

Charles Darwin

An English naturalist who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, explaining how species adapt and evolve over time based on environmental pressures.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, leading to evolutionary changes over time.

Alfred Russell Wallace

A British naturalist who independently proposed the theory of evolution through natural selection, contributing significantly to the understanding of species adaptation and diversity. He is often credited alongside Darwin for developing the concept of evolution.

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that provide evidence of past life and evolutionary history. They can include bones, shells, imprints, and other organic materials that have been preserved in sedimentary rock.

Comparative Anatomy

The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species, which provides insights into evolutionary relationships and adaptations.

Vestigial structures

are anatomical features that have lost most or all of their original function through the course of evolution, providing evidence of an organism's evolutionary history.

convergent evolution

The process by which unrelated or distantly related organisms evolve similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures, demonstrating how evolution can lead to similar solutions to common challenges.

Embryological similarity

refers to the observation that embryos of different species exhibit similar developmental stages, suggesting a common ancestry and providing evidence for evolutionary relationships.

Modern biochemical and genetic analyses

have revealed similarities among organisms at the molecular level, further supporting the theory of evolution by demonstrating shared genetic heritage.

Genetic Variation

refers to the differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population. This variation is essential for natural selection and evolution, as it provides the raw material for adaptation to changing environments.

Adaptations

are traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, resulting from evolutionary processes.

Spontaneous mutation

is a random change in an organism's DNA that can lead to genetic variation. These mutations can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral, influencing evolution.

Evolution

is the process through which populations of organisms change over generations through mechanisms like natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, leading to the development of new species.

diversity

refers to the variety of different species within a given ecosystem or the total number of species in a specific area. It is a key component of ecological health and resilience.