Basic Concepts (Chapter 1)

Question 1

Paleontology

Answer 1

study of ancient life, with emphasis on actual fossils

Question 2

Paleobiology

Answer 2

study of ancient life with emphasis on **behaviors **& life style of organisms

Question 3

Fossils

Answer 3

remnants of ancient life

• Hard parts: bone, shell…
• Soft part/ body fossils
• Trace fossils: indications of biologic activities

Question 4

species

Answer 4

• unit of bilogical measurement
• to be of the same species, must be able to interbreed & produce a viable young

Question 5

biostratigraphy

Answer 5

using fossils to determine order & timing of events in earth history

Question 6

time-stratgraphy

Answer 6

study of rocks as units of time to determine order & timing of events in earth history

Question 7

Geological Time Scale

Answer 7

divisions of Earth history into blocks of time

eons, eras, periods, epochs…

Question 8

induction

Answer 8

to accumulate observations & data

Question 9

deduction

Answer 9

use series of observations & infer an explanation behind any patterns seen

Question 10

hypothesis (2 types)

Answer 10

• speculation - based on random & often erroneous informaiton
• informed - based on systemic observations & background information

Question 11

comparative anatomy

Answer 11

• using the shape of known organisms to recreate another that have similar structures
• ex: bones of tigers to recreate sabertooth’s

Question 12

evolution

Answer 12

• process in which one organism gives life to another
• usually form simple to more complex form

Question 13

natural selection

Answer 13

when organism best fit for certain environment survive in it

Question 14

adaptation

Answer 14

• characteristic of organism that allows it to survive or bear enough young that the characteristic is passed on
• only inherited, not acquired