Selection
according to evolutionary biology, this is the fundamental unit that evolves over generations
what is a population
This species concept defines a species as groups of actually or potentially interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated
what is the biological species concept
On a phylogenetic tree, this feature represents a common ancestor and a speciation event
what is a node
Unlike eukaryotes, prokaryotes (Bacteria and Archaea) lack this membrane-bound organelle that houses genetic material
what is a nucleus
this type of natural selection acts against extreme phenotypes and favors intermediate traits
what is stabilizing selection
A sterile mule produced by a horse and a donkey is an example of this specific type of reproductive barrier
What is a postzygotic barrier (or reduced hybrid fertility)?
Groups that share a most recent common ancestor with each other, and not with any other group on the tree, are called this
what are sister taxa
Bacteria reproduce asexually through this process, where a single cell divides into two genetically identical daughter cells
what is binary fission
In the Hardy-Weinberg equation p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1, this term specifically represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals.
what is 2pq
This form of allopatric speciation occurs when a physical geographic barrier, such as a mountain range or waterway, arises to divide a population
what is vicariance
A taxonomic grouping that includes a common ancestor and ALL of its descendants is referred to by this term
what is a clade
This process allows prokaryotes to transfer genetic material directly between non-offspring cells, bypassing binary fission
what is horizontal gene transfer
Biological fitness is primarily measured by this key outcome
what is reproductive success
Speciation that occurs within the same geographic area without physical separation is known as
what is sympatric speciation
Grouping "fish" together while excluding tetrapods creates this type of group, which includes an ancestor but leaves out some descendants
what is a paraphyletic group
Organisms belonging to Domain Archaea that thrive in extreme conditions are referred to as this
what are extremophiles
This mechanism of evolution occurs when a small group breaks off from a larger population to establish a new colony,
what is the founder effect
This phenomenon occurs when a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into many distinct species that fill different ecological niches
What is an adaptive radiation
Grouping birds and bats together as "winged animals" creates this type of invalid phylogenetic group because it lacks their most recent common ancestor
what is a polyphyletic group
Archaea are capable of this unique metabolic process—not found in Bacteria or Eukaryotes, which produces methane as a byproduct and plays a major role in the carbon cycle.
what is methanogenesis