Question | Answer |
A well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations | theory |
The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment | fitness |
Principle that all living things have a common ancestor | common descent |
Selection conducted by humans for breeding organisms with useful traits | artificial selection |
The amount of time it takes 1/2 of the parent element to decay into the daughter element. | half-life |
A group of organisms that has the ability to reproduce and have fertile offspring. | species |
A group of organisms that is made up of members from the same species. | population |
A change in the genetic make-up of an organism over time, leading to a diversity among organisms. | evolution |
Scientist who used his findings to formulate the theory of Natural Selection. | Charles Darwin |
Process by which the survival and reproduction of a population is determined by those best suited for the environment. | natural selection |
Individuals with the best _________, survive and reproduce | genes (which code for traits, and thus adaptations). |
Any structure or behavior that allows an organism to better respond to the environment. | adaptation |
__________ is the basis of evolution. | Genetics |
Genetically diverse populations are MORE/LESS likely to survive. | MORE |
Process by which new species arise. | speciation |
Characteristics that are similar in function and structure; likely came from the SAME ancestor. | Homologous structures |
Characteristics that are similar in function but dissimilar in structure; likely did NOT come from the same ancestor. | Analogous structures |
Scientist whose view of evolution is no longer considered valid. | Lamarck |
Lamarck suggested that organisms pass on traits they ________________ during their lifetime to their offspring. | acquired/developed |
Similarities between species which protects at least one of the two species. | mimicry |
Structures in modern organisms that are no longer functional, but were likely functional in their ancestors. | vestigial organs |
Diagrams that show evolutionary relationships among different organisms. | cladograms |
The two main goals of living organisms are to __________________ & ________________. | survive, reproduce |
Two things that adaptations depend on include: | rate of reproduction and environmental pressures |
Related organisms that have developed different traits over time. | divergent evolution |
Unrelated organisms that have developed similar traits over time. | convergent evolution |