Environment
Non-living elements of an environment that may exert selection pressures.
What are abiotic factors?
The process by which organisms that inherit adventurous traits tend to reproduce more successfully than other organisms do
What is Natural Selection?
Traits of a population that enable it to survive in its environment. May be structural, behavioural or physiological.
What are adaptations?
The time it takes for the amount of a radioactive isotope to decay by half.
What is the half-life of a radio-isotope?
All of the fossils that have been discovered make up this
What is the Fossil Record?
A theory (explanation) supported by evidence for how populations change over time
What is evolution?
Overproduction, genetic variation, selection, and adaptation.
What are the four parts of natural selection?
A type of adaptation that has to do with the functioning of an organism.
What is a physiological adaptation?
The pentadactyl pattern found in vertebrates is an example of this kind of evidence that supports the theory of evolution.
What is comparative anatomy?
Alternate mode to gradual evolution, proposed because the fossil record indicates that there are long periods with no change and then short bursts of rapid change.
What is punctuated equilibrium?
Selection pressures from other living things, such as predators, food sources, symbiotic partners.
What are biotic factors?
Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace
When an original species spreads out to fill several different niches, resulting in the formation of a number of different species, each adapted to their own niche.
What is adaptive radiation?
Similarities in biochemistry (DNA, protein sequences), anatomy.
What evidence would indicate two organisms have a common ancestor?
Many fossils form in this type of rock
What is a sedimentary rock?
This type of symbiotic relationship is good for both individuals.
What is mutualism?
The process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise
What is Evolution?
When distantly related organisms come to resemble each other because they live in similar environments and develop similar adaptations enabled them to survive.
What is convergent evolution?
What is radio-isotope dating?
Fossils that show features of 2 organisms that are not closely related. Eg archeopteryx, which has features of a dinosaur and feathers like a bird.
What are transitional fossils?
This kind of evolution involves small changes over a short period of time, eg the change in the depth of the beaks of finches on Daphne Major during drought.
What is microevolution?
These can be passed from parent to offspring.
What are genetic variations?
When a population is divided, either physically or by behaviour/appearance so that mating between the two groups does not occur.
What is reproductive isolation?
Common structures, similar DNA, and developmental similarities
What other evidence supports evolution?
This kind of evidence shows that organisms have changed over time.
What is fossil evidence?