Darwin & Decent with Modification
The theory that life has existed for billions of years and changes over time through descent with modification by natural selection
Evolution
Change in allele frequencies in a population from one generation to the next
Microevolution
Hybrid embryo fails to develop or survive
Hybrid Viability
Earliest eon of Earth’s history; formation of Earth and early crust
Hadean Eon
Identifying and naming species and placing them into hierarchical classifications based on morphological similarity
Taxonomy
Processes from which life arose on Earth from nonliving matter
Abiogenesis
Variant form of a gene created by mutation
New Allele
Hybrid survives but is sterile
Hybrid Fertility
Early atmosphere rich in water vapour, CO2, methane, nitrogen; little free oxygen
Reducing Atmosphere
Discipline focused on classifying organisms according to evolutionary relationships (phylogeny)
Systematics
Process in which individuals with heritable traits better suited to their environment leave more offspring
Natural Selection
Exchange of DNA between non-sister chromatids during Prophase I of meiosis
Crossing Over
First generation viable but second generation infertile or weak
Hybrid Breakdown
Processes that gave rise to life from nonliving matter
Abiogenesis
A hypothesis of evolutionary relationships among species
Phylogenetic Tree
Ability to survive and leave offspring
Reproductive Fitness
Random alignment of homologous chromosomes during Metaphase I
Independent Assortment
All females; require sperm from another species to stimulate development but do not incorporate genes
Gynogenetic Species
Geological evidence of life in rocks
Early evidence of life
Method of building phylogenetic trees based on common ancestry
Cladistics
Traits that no longer provide functional advantage but persist
Vestigial Structures
Random union of gametes increasing variation
Fertilization
Mostly hermaphrodites that reproduce via self-fertilization
Androdioecious Species
Laminated rock structures formed by prokaryotes
Stromatolites
A group consisting of an ancestral species and all its descendants
Clade