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Biology and evolution

Word List with 34 words
*By Dictionary.com

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Words in This List

acquired characteristic
noun
nonhereditary change made in response to the environment.
adapt
verb (used with
to adjust to make suitable to conditions
allele
noun
gene forms usually arising through mutation responsible for hereditary variation
chromosome
noun
threadlike bodies consisting of chromatin that carry the genes in a linear order
common ancestor
noun
person from whom two or more people descend
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directional selection
noun
when natural selection favors a single phenotype so allele frequency shifts in one direction
disruptive selection
noun
changes in population in which extreme values for a trait are favored over intermediate ones
dna
noun
substance consisting of a double helix which holds genetic material
embryology
noun
science dealing with the formation, development, structure and functional activities of embryos
environment
noun
air, water, minerals, organisms, and other external factors surrounding an organism
evolution
noun
change in the gene pool of a population from one generation to next
fitness
noun
genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation's gene pool
fossil
noun
remains of a living thing of a former geologic age
gene flow
noun
alteration of allele frequencies of particular genes in a population
gene pool
noun
total genetic information in the gametes of all the individuals in a population
genetic drift
noun
random changes in the frequency of alleles in a gene pool
genetic variation
noun
degree of change within the alleles of genes
geographic distribution
noun
how plants and animals are organized in a given area
gradualism
noun
evolutionary theory tenet saying species evolve slowly and continuously over long periods
individual
noun
single organism capable of independent existence
inherited trait
noun
characteristic passed on to offspring by the male and female parents through genes
interbreed
verb (used with
to cause to breed together
mutation
noun
departure from parent in at least one heritable characteristic caused by gene or chromosome change
natural selection
noun
process by which life forms who adapt to their environment with traits tend to survive and reproduce
organism
noun
life form composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes
paleontology
noun
science of the life forms of former geologic periods, as represented by their fossils
population
noun
assemblage of a specific type of organism living in a given area
punctuated equilibrium
noun
hypothesis saying species evolution follows pattern of stability for long periods with shorter ones
speciation
noun
formation of new species as a result of geographic, physiological, anatomical or behavioral factors
species
noun
major genus subdivision of individuals with a resemblance that can breed among themselves
stabilizing selection
noun
maintains an intermediate expression of a trait by selection against extreme variants
trait
noun
distinguishing characteristic especially of one's personal nature
variation
noun
deviation in structure or character from others of the same species or group
vestigial organ
noun
rudimentary structure in humans corresponding to a functional structure in ancestral animals

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