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48 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Adaptation |
an inherited modification of structure or function that allows an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment |
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Allele Frequency |
the number of times a particular allele occurs in a gene pool compared to the total number of alleles for that particular gene |
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Analogous Structure |
body parts in different species that have the same appearance or function, but are not the result of common descent |
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Archaea |
the domain that includes prokaryotes that are not bacteria |
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Artificial Selection |
the process of breeding only livestock or crops with desirable characteristics in order to increase the frequency of those characteristics in the offspring |
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Bacteria |
the domain that includes all bacteria |
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Behavioral Isolation |
a form of reproductive isolation that results from differences in mating rituals or other behaviors |
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Binomial Nomenclature |
the system of assigning a unique two-word scientific name to all organisms |
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Biogeography |
the study of the past and present geographical distribution of species found throughout the world |
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Clade |
a taxonomic group that includes a single ancestor and all its descendants |
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Cladogram |
a branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between species |
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Class |
a group of closely related orders |
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Comparative anatomy |
the study of the similarities and differences in anatomy between different species |
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Comparative Embryology |
the comparison of the earliest stages of development between different species |
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Comparative Genetics |
the study of the similarities and differences in the DNA sequences of different species |
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Derived Character |
a characteristic that is only found in members of the same clade |
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Dichotomous Key |
a tool in which a series of couplets describe characteristics which are used to identify an unknown organism |
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Domain |
a larger taxonomic group than kingdom |
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Eukarya |
the domain that includes all eukaryotes |
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Evolution |
the process by which organisms develop over time through modification from an ancient ancestor |
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Family |
a group of closely related genera |
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Fitness |
the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment |
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Fossil |
the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism |
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Gene Pool |
the total number of genes, including all the different alleles for those genes, present in a population at a particular time |
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Genetic Drift |
the accumulation of random genetic changes in a small population that result in a change in allele frequency |
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Genetic Variation |
the difference in the DNA sequence of individuals or populations |
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Genus |
a group of closely related species |
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Geographical Isolation |
a form of reproductive isolation that results from physical barriers |
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Homologous Structure |
body parts in different species that may not serve the same function but have a similar structure due to common descent |
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Homology |
the correspondence of certain features between species as a result of shared ancestry |
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Kingdom |
a group of closely related phyla |
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Natural Selection |
a nonrandom mechanism of evolution in which the fittest organisms survive and leave the most offspring |
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Order |
a group of closely related families |
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Phylogeny |
the evolutionary history of a group |
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Phylum |
a group of closely related classes |
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Polygenic Trait |
a trait that is controlled by more than one gene |
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Principle of Common Descent |
the idea that all organisms share an ancient common ancestor |
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Reproductive Isolation |
a situation that results when two populations of the same species are prevented from interbreeding |
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Single-Gene Trait |
a trait that is controlled by a single gene |
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Speciation |
the formation of a new species |
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Species |
group of similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring |
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Survival of the Fittest |
the idea that organisms adapt to their environment through natural selection so that the best suited organisms survive and pass their genes on to their offspring |
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Systematics |
the naming and grouping of organism based on their evolutionary relationships |
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Taxon |
a level of organization in which organisms are grouped |
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Temporal Isolation |
a form of reproductive isolation that results from differences in reproductive timing |
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Uniformitarianism |
Uniformitarianism claims that all geological processes that occurred throughout Earth’s history and formed the geological structures we see today are constant over time. |
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Variation |
the difference between individuals in a population |
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Vestigial Structure |
homologous structures that have lost most or all of their original function |