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