Darwin and Natural Selection
Who is considered the father of the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Charles Darwin
What type of evidence for evolution comes from comparing the structure of bones in different species?
Comparative anatomy
What is the change in the frequency of a gene variant (allele) in a population due to random sampling called?
Genetic drift
What is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment called?
Adaptation
What is the name of the early human ancestor whose fossil was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974?
Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis)
What is the title of Charles Darwin's most famous work published in 1859?
"On the Origin of Species"
What are preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms called?
Fossils
What is the movement of individuals and their genes into or out of a population called?
Gene flow
Which type of adaptation involves physical features such as beak shape or fur color?
Structural adaptation
What is the famous fossil that provided evidence for the link between birds and dinosaurs?
Archaeopteryx
On which group of islands did Darwin observe finches that contributed to his theory?
The Galápagos Islands
What term describes the similarities in DNA sequences between different species?
Genetic evidence
What are random changes in the genetic material of an organism called?
Mutations
What type of adaptation involves behaviors that help an organism survive?
Behavioral adaptation
What is the name of the well-preserved fossil fish that shows transitional features between fish and amphibians?
Tiktaalik
What is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring?
Natural selection
Which type of evolution evidence is shown by the development of embryos of different species?
Embryology
What type of selection favors individuals at one end of the phenotypic range?
Directional selection
Which adaptation allows an organism to blend into its surroundings?
Camouflage
What is the name of the fossilized hominid footprints discovered in Tanzania that provided evidence of bipedalism?
Laetoli footprints
Which ship did Charles Darwin sail on during his voyage that led to many of his evolutionary insights?
HMS Beagle
What is the name for the study of the geographic distribution of species that provides evidence for evolution?
Biogeography
What mechanism involves the choosing of mates based on specific traits?
Sexual selection
What is the term for when an organism evolves to look like another organism as a form of protection?
Mimicry
What is the name of the famous fossil discovered in 1909 in British Columbia that provided a wealth of information about Cambrian life?
Burgess Shale