Darwinian Evolution Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Darwinian Evolution, including the mechanisms and evidence of evolution.

natural selection

The process by which individuals with variations that make them best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

evolution

Genetic changes in a population over time.

gene flow

Genetic exchange among populations due to migration, which tends to reduce genetic differences.

genetic drift

Random changes in the gene pool of a population over time, especially significant in small or isolated populations.

bottleneck effect

A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events, leading to a loss of genetic diversity.

founder effect

A reduction of genetic variation that occurs when a small group of individuals starts a new population.

variation

Differences among individuals in a population that may affect their ability to survive and reproduce.

heritable traits

Characteristics that can be passed from parents to offspring through genes.

embryonic development

The process of development of an embryo that shows similarities among closely related species.

biogeography

The study of the geographic distribution of species, providing evidence for evolution.

fossil record

The history of life recorded by fossils, showing changes in species over geologic time.

radiometric dating

A method used to date materials by comparing the abundance of radioactive isotopes to stable isotopes.

mutation

A change in the physical structure of a gene, which can be the original source of genetic variation.

artificial selection

The process by which humans breed animals and plants for particular traits.

survivor reproduction

The process where surviving individuals of a population reproduce, passing on their favorable traits.