7&8 vocab Flashcards
(22 cards)
adaptations
a characteristic that improves an individual ability to survive
species
a group of organisms that are closely retaliated and can mate to produce a fertile offspring
Evolution
the process in which inherited characteristics change over generations
Fossil
To trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago
fossil record
a historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in the layers of the earth
Trait
a genetically determined characteristics
selective breeding
the human practice of breeding animals or plants that certain desire traits
Natural selection
the process by which indidvuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully
generation time
the period between the birth of one generation and the birth of the next generation
speciation
the formation of new species as a result of evolution
relative dating
Any method of determining wether an event or object is older or younger
Absolute Dating
any method of measuring the age of an object or event in years
Geologic time scale
the standard method used to dived the Earths long natural history
extinct
desribes a species that has died out completely
Plate tectonics
the theory that explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer move and change shape
Precambrian time
the period in the geologic time scale from the formation of the earth to the beging of the Paleozic era
Paleozoic era
the geologic era that followed Precambrian time and that lasted from 542 million years ago
mesozoic era
the geologic era that lasted from 251 million to 65.5 million years ago
Cenozoic era
the most recent geologic era beginning 65 million. Years ago
Primate
a type of mammal characterized by opposable thumbs and binocular vison
Hominid
a type of primate characterized by bidedalism
Homo sapiens
the species of the hominids that includes modern humans and their closet ancestors
