What is the difference between Abiotic and Biotic?
Abiotic: A non-living factor (like the Earth's atmosphere)
Biotic: A living factor (like plants growing)
100
What is Natural Selection?
The theory that species with the best variations over time will be better adapted to their environment
100
What is a fossil?
The remains or traces of organisms that once lived on Earth
100
Do individuals in a species evolve?
No, populations as a whole do
200
Extinct
The process of a population dying over time and no longer existing
200
In what order is a timeline of abiotic and biotic factors written?
From most recent down to oldest
200
Who came up with the theory of Natural Selection?
A scientist named Darwin
200
Would the oldest rock layer be on the bottom or the top?
The bottom, since the newer rock layers have to be formed on top of it
200
What is the difference between inherited characteristics and acquired characteristics?
Inherited characteristics are traits that an organisms gets from its parents, while acquired characteristics are traits that an organisms gets over time
300
Isotopes
Atoms of an element that vary in the number of neutrons they have
300
True or False: There are more abiotic events than biotic ones
False, there are more biotic events
300
What are the 4 main parts to Natural Selection?
1. Variation
2. Adaptation
3. Selection
4. Genetic change over time
300
What do scientists use to help them date the fossils?
Radiometric dating and geologic records
300
Why do some species become extinct?
Some species with the better variations to survive continue to grow and reproduce, while the ones without those variations can't survive and eventually die off
400
Half-Life
A measurement of how long it takes for radioactive decay to occur
400
What was the first biotic event in Earth's history?
The beginning of life on Earth (bacteria and prokaryotes)
400
How do characteristics of a species affect the population size?
The ones with the best characteristics suited to their environment live, while the ones who don't slowly die off or adapt
400
This provides evidence that fossils and rock layers have different ages
Radiometric dating
400
Why are humans so similar to chimpanzees?
Humans adapted from chimpanzees over time to become a whole different species which is why we both have some of the same traits such as opposable thumbs
500
Radioactive Decay
The process of unstable atoms (like radioactive isotopes) breaking down to form more stable isotopes
500
How do abiotic events affect biotic events?
With more abiotic things (atmosphere increasing, land), more biotic events (first known plants, multicellular life) can happen over time as a result
500
What will happen to a population of birds with small beaks living in a desert with food deep in the ground?
The birds will have to adapt to growing longer beaks so they will survive and be able to get the food that's buried deep in the ground
500
How are fossils made?
The organisms that once lived get stuck in the new rock layers and their shapes get imprinted into the rocks
500
What are the 5 types of evidence for evolutionary relationships?
1. Anatomical evidence
2. Vestigial structures
3. Embryological likeness
4. Fossil records
5. DNA analysis