Evidence for Evolution
Preserved remains of ancient organisms
What are fossils?
Selection based on man-made manipulation.
What is artificial selection?
Any inherited trait that increases an organism's chance of survival in their unique environment.
What is an adaptation?
He is known as the Father of Evolution
Who is Charles Darwin?
According to the modern theory of evolution, variation and changes are caused by this.
What are (genetic) mutations?
A type of trait that can be passed on to the next generation.
What is an inherited trait?
Which term refers to the process by which individuals that are better suited to the environment survive and reproduce therefore passing down their genes to their offspring?
What is Natural Selection?
Being able to blend in with your environment.
What is camouflage?
The process in which a species has changed over time is known as this.
What is evolution?
A "fight" for limited resources or mates among individuals in a population.
What is competition?
Similar structures that evolved from a common ancestor such as bones humans, cats, bats, and whales have in common.
What are Homologous Structures?
a form of natural selection in which a single curve splits into two; occurs when individuals at the upper and lower ends of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals near the middle
What is disruptive selection?
When an organism completely dies out.
What is Extinction?
The relative in which two different organisms share from the distant past.
What are common ancestors?
When two different species evolve together due to their interaction or dependence on one another.
What is coevolution?
Body structures that serve the same function but differ in structure because they evolved independently of each other.
What are Analogous Structures?
a form of natural selection in which the entire curve moves; occurs when individuals at one end of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals in the middle or at the other end of the curve
What is directional selection?
This type of vestigial structure is found in our digestive system. This organ used to be used to digest cellulose for our ancient ancestors.
What is the appendix?
When species are separated by a mountain, lake, highway, etc.
What is (Geographic) isolation?
A behavior in which one organism actively hunts another in search for food.
What is predation?
Organs/structures that no longer serve a purpose and have disappeared or reduced in size.
What are Vestigial Organs/Structures?
A type of selection that favors the "middle" spread of the trait. Ex: Short and tall giraffes are not fit to survive, so medium-height giraffes are selected for.
What is stabilizing selection?
A subpopulation becomes separated or geographically isolated for a long period of time and is genetically distinct from the original population.
What is speciation/a new species?
Type of genetic drift where a subpopulation moves to an isolated location and the future population has a vastly different gene pool than the original population.
What is the Founder's effect?
a type of genetic drift where there is a reduction of genetic diversity in a population due to a random event or natural disaster killing a majority of the population.
What is bottleneck effect?