Common Ancestry
Fossil Record
Tells the AGE OF THE EARTH. The record of occurrence and evolution of living organisms through geological time as inferred from fossils
Biological Fitness
How well a species is able to reproduce in its environment
Survival of the Fittest
Organisms with higher fitness produce more offspring
Where natural selection favors traits that benefit an organism’s close relatives
Speciation
The process where one species gives rise to a new and distinctly different species
Biogeography
Geographic distribution of plants and animals which indicates common ancestry.
Ex. Plants and animals on northern and southern continents can be traced to the split of Pangea.
Genetic Drift
Change in allele frequency due to random chance; usually has a greater effect on smaller populations
Adaptive Trait
A feature that helps an organism survive or reproduce in a particular environment
Behavioral Isolation
A reproductive barrier where different species are prevented from interbreeding due to distinct mating behaviors
Reproductive Isolation
The inability of a species to breed successfully with their related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences
Phylogenetic Gradualism VS Punctuated Equilibrium Trees
Gradualism: Evolution happening gradually with small intermediate changes (fossils do not show this theory to be true)
Punctuated: Short spurts of evolutionary changes with long periods of stasis (more support for this theory)
Natural Selection
Favors traits enhancing survival and reproduction
Differential Reproduction
A measure of fitness that compares reproductive success between groups of individuals
Mate VS Artificial Selection
M: The process where an organism chooses a mating partner based on specific traits or characteristics, leading to non-random mating and influencing which genes are passed onto future generations
A: The process where humans intentionally select specific traits in plants and animals to breed from
Allopatric VS Sympatric Isolation
A: Speciation occurs due to the presence of a geographical barrier
S: Speciation that occurs WITHOUT the presence of a geographical barrier
Divergent Evolution
Divergent: a single species evolves into 2 distinct groups
Gene Flow
Due to migration or movement of gametes, genes are transferred from one population to another
Immigration: moving into a new, more suitable environment
Emigration: leaving a habitat
3 Types of Natural Selection
1. Stabilizing Selection
2. Directional Selection
3. Disruptive Selection
Phenotypic Plasticity
The ability to develop different physical traits depending on the environmental conditions it experiences
Adaptive Radiation
Rapid evolution of diverse species from a common ancestor typically when organisms colonize new environments with varied ecological niches
Homologous VS Analogous Structures
H: Body parts in different species that have similar structures but may have different functions, showing common ancestry
A: Structures that are not similar in unrelated organisms, which does not reflect common ancestry. They have the same functions.
5 Evolutionary Evidences
Fossil Record
Biogeography
Embryological
Comparative Anatomy
Biochemical
4 Genetic Variation Causes
1. Mutations
2. Random Mating
3. Crossing Over
4. Migration
Altruism
A behavior where an organism acts in a way that benefits another individual at a cost to its own reproductive fitness
Prezygotic VS Postzygotic Barrier
Pre: 1. Habitat isolation 2. Temporal isolation 3. Behavioral isolation 4. Mechanical isolation 5. Gamete isolation
Post: 1. Hybrid Mortality 2. Hybrid Sterility 3. Hybrid F2 Breakdown