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K103 terms
Exam 1 Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Convergent evolution | organisms evolved similar characteristics as a result of exposure to similar environmental changes (natural selection) |
| macroevolution | large-scale evolutionary changes; over a long period of time; organism moves into new taxonomic group at or above species level |
| microevolution | minor evolutionary changes; over a few generations; causes allele changes or genotype frequency changes |
| modern synthesis | explanation of evolution that utilizes molecular genetics, phylogeny, natural selection, mutations. etc. |
| population | individuals of the same species |
| species | successfully interbreeding organisms that produce fertile offspring |
| vestigial structure | remnants of structures that used to be functional in ancestral organisms |
| balanced polymorphism | a type of genetic polymorphism in which 2+ alleles persist in a population due to natural selection |
| bottleneck effect | an event that rapidly, randomly, decreases population size |
| cline | gradual change in species' phenotype and genotype ; involves geographically separate populations of the same species |
| directional selection | natural selection selects against one of the phenotypic extremes and favors intermediates and other phenotypic extremes |
| disruptive selection | natural selection selects against the intermediates and favors phenotypic extremes |
| founder effect | when a small group of individuals starts a new colony and a new population arises from the original group; group has genetic variation |
| frequency-dependent selection | preserves balanced polymorphism; the frequency of a phenotype in a population determines the fitness of that trait |
| genetic drift | change in allele frequencies from one generation to the next |
| genetic polymorphism | genetic variation among individuals of a population |
| geographic variation (cline) | difference in genotype and phenotype frequencies in a population; caused by an environmental gradient |
| heterozygote advantage | preserves balanced polymorphism; heterozygote has a higher level of fitness than either homozygote |
| inbreeding | mating of genetically similar of genetically close individuals |
| stabilizing selection | natural selection selects against phenotypic extremes and favors intermediate phenotypes |
| adaptive radiation | evolution of several species from one or a few ancestral species; occurs in a short time |
| allometric growth | growth of different body parts at different rates |
| allopatric growth | formation of 2 new species following the physical separation of individuals of a single population |
| gradualism | evolution occurs due to slow, steady, changes over time |
| hybrid inviability | egg and sperm not compatible ; no production of viable zygote and embryo |
| hybrid sterility | abnormal gametes of interspecies; able to produce zygote |
| hybrid breakdown | hybrid unable to reproduce successfully. F1 and F2 generations may be produced |
| hybrid zone | area of overlap between related species or subspecies in which interbreeding occurs |
| paedomorphosis | retention of juvy features in adult body form |
| preadaptation | a feature that functioned in one way originally but adapted to perform new function |
| prezygotic barrier | prohibits fertilization aka zygote formation |
| postzygotic barrier | occurs after fertilization; prevent hybrid from living to multiply |
| punctuated equilibrium | evolution proceeds with period of little or no change and then rapid changes occur over a short period of time |
| sympatric speciation | formation of 2 new species within the geographic region of the parent population; no physical barrier is present but reproductive isolating mechanism are |
| autotroph | producer: makes orgo compounds from inorgo materials.e.g photosynthesis |
| heterotroph | consumer; can't synthesize its food |
| coacervate | a type of protobiont contain enzymes for complex synthesis |
| endomembranous theory | single membrane organelles originated by budding off internal surface of plasma membrane |
| endosymbiont | an organism that live in or on another |
| endosymbiosis theory | double membrane organelles arose from a symbiont relationship in which the endosymbiont living inside cell lost its autonomy and became incorporated as an organelle within that cell |
| microsphere | type of protobiont; formed by adding water to abiotically formed polypeptides |
| protobiont | a vesicle of abiotically produced polymers |
| stromatolite | a column of prokaryote cells that become fossilized |