Download Evolution 101: Terms, Concepts, and Mechanisms and more Quizzes Biology in PDF only on Docsity!
Evolution
a unifying concept. the genetic composition of a population changes over time. provide for successful survival and reproduction. natural selection is the cause of this. TERM 2
mechanisms of evolution
DEFINITION 2 natural selection>sexual selectiongenetic driftgenetic flow TERM 3
evidence of evolution
DEFINITION 3 fossils, biogeography, comparative anatomy, vestigial structures, comparative embryology, and molecular biology TERM 4
fossils
DEFINITION 4 anything that is preserved in rock TERM 5
biogeography
DEFINITION 5 the study of the geographic distribution of species that first suggested to darwin that today's organisms evolved from ancestral forms
comparative anatomy
the similarity in structures due to common ancestry. it is illustrated by the remodeling of the pattern of bones forming the forelimbs of mammals TERM 7
homology
DEFINITION 7 study the same structures and compare them to common ancestors TERM 8
vestigial structures
DEFINITION 8 remnants of features that served important functions in organism's ancestorsEx:appendix or wisdom teeth TERM 9
comparative embryology
DEFINITION 9 early stages of development in different animal species reveal similar stages in developmentEx:human embryo and chicken embryo TERM 10
molecular biology
DEFINITION 10 the heredity background of an organism is documented in its DNA and in the proteins encoded by the DNA
darwin's theory of natural selection
two key observations:-all species tend to produce excessive numbers of offspring-organisms vary, and much of this variation is heritable (can be inherited) TERM 17
sexual selection
DEFINITION 17 type of natural selection-based on success (or lack of success) in attracting a mate and reproducing-individuals that don't perform well enough to attract a mate may live long lives, but leave no offspring
