natural selection
what is. Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution where organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully, leading to the gradual increase in the frequency of those advantageous traits in a population over time.
What is evolution?
Evolution is the process by which populations of organisms change over time.
Genetic variation refers to the differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a species, and it's crucial for a species' survival because it provides the raw material for adaptation to changing environments and resistance to diseases, allowing populations to better cope with challenges and maintain their long-term viabilit
What are Fossils?
the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.
what is one thing a cladogram cannot show you
the process of evolution
what is. The key principles underlying natural selection are variation, inheritance, selection, and time.
what would happen if a species never evolves
if a species ceased evolving, it would face a high risk of extinction as it would be unable to adapt to changing environmental conditions, potentially leading to the inability to compete for resources, evade predators, or survive new diseases or climate shifts.
random mutations
Paleontologists determine the age of fossils using both relative dating (comparing fossil positions in rock layers) and absolute dating (radiometric dating of rocks around fossils), providing a range of ages and a more precise numerical age respectively.
what type of relationships do claydograms reveal
A cladogram displays the relationships between organisms based on their characteristics or ancestors.
Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution, driving the change in inherited traits of a population over generations, where individuals with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.
how does competiton lead to evolution
Competition, especially for limited resources, drives evolution by creating selective pressures that favor individuals with traits that enhance their ability to survive and reproduce, leading to the gradual adaptation and diversification of species over time.
Genetic variation, the differences in DNA sequences between individuals or populations, manifests in various ways across species, including human traits like eye color, blood type, and even susceptibility to certain diseases
What is paleontology?
Paleontology is the study of the history of life on Earth as based on fossils. Fossils are the remains of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and single-celled living things that have been replaced by rock material or impressions of organisms preserved in rock
How do you tell if a species is extinct on a cladogram?
Extinct species are represented as dead-end branches.
"Survival of the fittest" is a phrase, often used to describe natural selection, which means that organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to future generations.
what occurs first natural selection or evolution
natrual selection
Mutations, which are changes in the DNA sequence, are the primary source of genetic variation within a population, introducing new alleles that can be passed down to future generations.
what are the chances you find a fosil in your backyard
The chances of finding a visible fossil in your backyard are generally low,
what does it mean when two species branch off from the same common ancestor
When two species branch off from the same common ancestor, it signifies that they evolved from a shared ancestral population or in other words closely related
Variation, the differences in traits among individuals within a population, is the raw material for natural selection, providing the diversity that allows some individuals to be better suited to their environment and thus more likely to survive and reproduce.
what are some examples of evolution in action?
Evolution in action can be observed in various examples, including the peppered moth's color change due to industrial pollution, the evolution of Darwin's finches' beaks on the Galapagos Islands, and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Sexual reproduction, involving meiosis and fertilization, contributes to genetic variation through mechanisms like crossing over, independent assortment, and random fertilization, leading to unique combinations of genes in offspring.
We study fossils to understand the history of life on Earth, including evolution, ancient ecosystems, and how climate change has impacted life, providing insights into the past and present.
What do the nodes in a cladogram represent?
In a cladogram, nodes represent points of divergence or speciation events, marking the hypothetical common ancestor from which descendant species evolved.