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evolution concepts
| Term | Definition | hint/example |
|---|---|---|
| adaptation | an existing trait of a species that allows it to successfully adjust to environmental changes | a long neck may be advantageous over a short neck |
| amino acid sequence | the sequence of amino acids in any protein (polypeptide), determined by a DNA nucleotide sequence | lysine-leucine-tryptophan-........ |
| analogous structures | structures of different species that have similar function, but different structure - suggests that these species evolved to similar environmental conditions | the wings of an insect, bird and bat |
| common ancestor | a distant species that two or more current species evolved from | |
| common descent | the idea that life shares a similar (evolutionary) past | |
| DNA sequence | the sequence of nucleotides of a particular DNA segment - determines amino acid sequence of proteins | A-T-C-G-C-G-T-A.......... |
| evolution | the theory that all of life's species/creatures have changed through time as the earth has changed through time | |
| extinction | the permanent removal of a species from the earth due to some environmental cause | dinosaurs and do do birds are extinct |
| fitness | from an evolutionary point of view, the ability of an organism to reproduce - to produce offspring | |
| fossils | evidence of organisms of the past which are left behind as imprints or molds in layers of the earth's rock | |
| frequency | how often an event occurs in a certain period of time | when you flip a coin the frequency of getting heads is 1 out of 2 or 1:2 |
| homologous structures | structures of many species that are similar in structure (shape and arrangement), but may be different in function - suggests common descent of these organisms | the arm of a human, dog, bird and bat |
| natural selection | the theory that some members of a species are capable of adapting to environmental changes while others are not - those that are reproduce offspring with the advantageous traits | |
| population | a group of members of the same species that live in a defined area | the U.S. human (Homo sapien) population is approximately 330,000,000 |
| selective pressures | an environmental change or condition to which a species must adapt - or not survive | amount of light, water, oxygen, or temperature are examples |
| species | a defined group of organisms that share the same genetic make up - typically cannot breed/mate with other organisms that do not share the same genetic make up | Homo sapien (human) Procyon lotor (raccoon) Canis lupis (grey wolf) |
| survival of the fittest | the idea that those members of a species that are able to adapt to selective pressures are the only members that can reproduce and pass along their (successful) genes | |
| vestigial structures | structures that the members of a species have, but have no apparent use - suggest that these structures once had a function,but no longer do | human appendix, coccyx and wisdom teeth |
Created by:
mrjaeckels
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