Evolution 1
A slight difference in an inherited trait of individual members of a species.
variation
The resemblance of one species to another species.
mimicry
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them.
naturalist
The science of the development of embryos from fertilization to birth.
embryology
An adaptation that enables a species to blend with its environment.
camouflage
The breeding of organisms for desired characteristics.
selective breeding
The study of gene structure and function.
molecular biology
What is a behavioral adaptation and give an example.
How an organism acts such as animals hunting at night.
Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.
Vestigial structures
The study of similarities and differences among structures of living species.
comparative anatomy
A viceroy butterfly looking similar to a monarch butterfly is an example of what?
mimicry
What's the difference between structural and functional adaptations and give an example of each.
Structural is an organisms physical characteristics such as the bright colors of sea slugs.
Functional involves the internal body systems that affect biochemistry such as a drop in body temperature during hibernation.
What is an adaptation?
An inherited trait that increases an organism’s chance of surviving and reproducing in its environment.
Explain homologous structures and give an example.
Body parts of organisms that are similar in structure and position but different in function.
Describe the differences between natural selection and artificial selection.
Natural selection is based on genetic mutations that benefit an organism to live longer and pass on those genes. Artificial selection occurs when humans selectively breed organisms based on their desired traits.
Explain how tortoises on each of the islands evolved to match the food sources on the islands.
A tortoise was born with a variation such as a longer neck which could reach the higher cacti and out compete the other tortoises for food. This tortoise lived longer, reproduced more offspring, and over time, the long neck is inherited by more and more offspring.
What is natural selection?
The process by which populations of organisms with variations that help them survive in their environments live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations.
Explain analogous structures and give an example.
Body parts that perform a similar function but differ in structure.
What determined the length of the tortoises necks on the Galapagos Islands?
The type of food that was available on each island. Tall vegetation had tortoises with long necks and short vegetation had tortoises with short necks.
What is the main cause of the variations in organisms which causes changes in phenotype?
genetic mutations