Term | Definition |
species | a group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring. |
fossil | the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past. |
adaptation | a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment |
scientific theory | a well tested concept that explains a wide range of observations. |
natural selection | individuals that are better adapted to their environments are more likely to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species. |
variation | a difference between individuals of the same species. |
comparative anatomy | the comparison of the structures of different organisms. |
homologous structures | similar structures that a related species have inherited from a common ancestor. |
mold | a hollow area in sediment in the shape of an organism or part of an organism. |
cast | a solid copy of a shape of an organism |
petrified fossil | fossils in which materials replace all or part of an organism. |
trace fossil | provides evidence of the activities of ancient organisms. |
paleontologist | scientists who studies fossils. |
gradualism | proposes that evolution occurs slowly but steadily. |
punctuated equilibria | accounts for the gaps in the fossil record. |
habitat | the specific environment that provides the things the organism needs to live grow and reproduce. |
extinct | if no members of that species are still alive. |
classification | is the process of grouping things based on their similarities. |
taxonomy | a scientific study of how living things are classified. |
binomial nomenclature | the system for naming organisms in which each organism is given a unique two part scientific name. |
genus | a classification grouping that contains similar closely related organisms. |
prokaryote | organisms whose cells lack a nucleus. |
eukaryote | organisms with cells that contain nuclei. |
branching tree diagram | shows portable evolutionary relationships among organisms. |
shared derived characteristic | a characteristic usually homozygous structure shared by all organisms in a group. |
evolution | the gradual change in a species over time. |