Evolution

Natural Selection

organisms with beneficial traits survive and reproduce to pass on the beneficial trait to future offspring

Charles Darwin

a naturalist who traveled to the Galapagos Islands and begin the theory of Evolution

Peppered Moths of Manchester

moths whose population color changed over time due to pollution

Fossils

remains of previously living organisms that provide scientists with evidence of how organisms have changed over time

Sedimentary Rock

rock made of multiple layers of sediment in which fossils may be found

Embryology

the idea that organisms have evolved from a common ancestor because embryos of differing organisms appear similar

Homologous Structures

the idea that organisms have evolved from a common ancestor because some structures of differing organisms appear similar

Vestigial Structures

the idea that organisms have evolved over time because there are remaining structures in some organisms that are no longer being used today

Fossil Record

shows the change or evolution that some organisms have undergone throughout history

Adaptation

a change in a species that has occurred over time so that the organism is better suited to its environment

Mimicry

a harmless organism's appearance looking similar to a harmful organism

Camouflage

an organism blending into its surroundings

Competition

organisms competing for limited resources, such as food, water, space, and mates

Evolution

change in species over time

Extinct

when all organisms in a species are no longer living

variation

naturally occurring differences in the species ca be beneficial leading to eventual adaptations

overproduction

producing more offspring than necessary to ensure the survival of the genes

Darwin's finches

birds that Charles Darwin found on the Galapagos Islands that demonstrate change in a species over time due to limited food resources

Theory

a scientific idea that has been researched and has evidence to support it, but has not yet been confirmed as a scientific law because it cannot be totally proven

Law

a scientific idea that has been researched and tested, with undisputed proof that it is based in facts

Population

a group of organisms of the same species

Comparative Morphology

the scientific study of structures of organisms

Analogous structures

structures in genetically different organisms that have the same function due to environmental requirements, like fins of a fish and flippers on a penguin

Gradualism

the idea that evolution occurred gradually, over a long period of time

Punctuated Equilibrium

the idea that evolution occurred in short bursts over a period of time

Directional evolution

the evolution of a species in which one variation of a trait is favored over all others

Stabilizing evolution

the evolution of a species in which the average or median variation of traits is favored over both extremes

Disruptive evolution

the evolution of a species in which both extreme variations of traits are favored over the average or median trait

Geographic Isolation

the isolation of a population of a species due to geographic features like mountains, lakes, streams, etc., resulting in two species to be developed over time.

Allelic frequency

the percentage of a specific allele appearing in a population. Calculated by taking the total number of alleles available in the population and dividing it by the number of the specific allele you're looking for.

Adaptive radiation

the creation of a variety of new species evolving from a common ancestor, such as Darwin's Finches

Behavioral adaptions

adaptations in an organism that are behaviors, such as mating dances, mating calls, migration, hibernation

Structural adaptations

adaptations in an organism that are a part of its structure, or how its built, such as hollow bones in birds, gills for fish, wings for insects that fly

Physiological adaptations

adaptations in an organism that its body naturally makes, such as venom, poison, ink, etc.

Convergent evolution

organisms that do have a common ancestor, but develop common characteristics due to their environment. Ex: dolphins and fish and penguins

Divergent evolution

organisms that DO have a common ancestor but have become more and more different over time. Ex: wolves and dogs