DNA
A specific sequence of DNA that determines traits
What is a gene?
The process in which organisms that are best suited to their environment survive and pass on their genes (inherited traits)
What is natural selection?
Any trace of a living organism (body, part of body, burrow, footprint, etc.) preserved over time.
what is a fossil?
A group of individuals that actually or potentially interbreed in nature.
What is species?
body parts in different species that have similar structure but may perform different functions, indicating a common ancestor
What is homologous structures?
A specific version of a characteristic that varies from one individual to another.
What is a trait?
A change in the inherited characteristics of populations from one generation to the next.
What is evolution?
An event in which the last members of a species or group die.
what is extinction?
The process by which species form.
What is speciation?
body parts in different species that perform similar functions but have different structures, indicating they evolved separately to adapt to similar environments or ways of life
what is analogous structures?
A change in the DNA of a gene that may lead to a different trait.
What is a mutation?
A heritable trait favored by natural selection for its current function.
What is an adaptation?
A scientist who studies fossils.
what is a paleontologist?
What animal did Darwin study and determine came from one ancestral species?
The finches
body parts that have no apparent function in a species but are fully functional in other species, indicating they were useful in ancestors but are no longer needed
what is vestigial structures?
Differential survival or reproduction of different inherited traits in a population leading to changes in the gene frequencies of a population.
What is natural selection?
The father of evolution
Who is Charles Darwin?
An earlier type of animal or plant from which others have evolved
what is an ancestor?
Common ancestor of organisms that evolved into separate species.
What is ancestral species?
provides evidence for evolution by demonstrating common patterns in the embryonic development of different species, which suggests common ancestry and shared evolutionary history
A difference in genes, traits, or behaviors among members of a population, which may result in differences in reproductive success.
what is genetic variation? (or variation)
The name of the islands where Darwin studied and gathered his evidence on Natural Selection
What is the Galapagos Islands?
A basic law stating that in any undisturbed sequence of rocks deposited in layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest on bottom
what is the law of superposition?
This has to occur for 2 populations to become new species
what is reproductive isolation?
A bat wing, whale flipper, and human arm are an example of
what is homologous structures?