Chapter 7and 8

Question 1

Species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

Evolution

Answer 2

The process in chick inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise.

Question 3

Fossil

Answer 3

The trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock.

Question 4

Fossil record

Answer 4

A historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found I layers of the earths crust.

Question 5

Trait

Answer 5

A genetically determined characteristic.

Question 6

Selective breeding

Answer 6

The human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits.

Question 7

Natural selection

Answer 7

A theory to explain the mechanism of evolution.

Question 8

Speciation

Answer 8

The formation of new species as a result of evolution.

Question 9

Relative dating

Answer 9

Any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects.

Question 10

Absolute dating

Answer 10

Any method of measuring the age of an object or event in years.

Question 11

Geological time scale

Answer 11

The standard method used to divide the earths long natural history into manageable parts

Question 12

Extinct

Answer 12

Describes a species that has died out completely.

Question 13

Plate tectonics

Answer 13

The theory Rhys explains how large pieces of the earths outermost layer, called tectonic plates, move and change shape.

Question 14

Precambrian time.

Answer 14

The period in the geologic time scale from the formation of the earth to the beginning of the Paleozoic era, from about 4.6 billion to 542 million years ago.

Question 15

Paleozoic era

Answer 15

The geologic are that followed Precambrian time and that lasted from 542 million years to 251 million years ago.

Question 16

Mesozoic are.

Answer 16

The geologic are that lasted from 251 million to 65.5 millions years ago. Also called the ago of reptiles.

Question 17

Cenozoic era

Answer 17

The most recent geological era, beginning 65 million years ago. Called the age of mammals.

Question 18

Primates

Answer 18

A type of mammal characterized by opposable thumbs and binocular vision.

Question 19

Hominid

Answer 19

A type of primate characterized by bipedalism, relatively long lower thumbs, and lack of a tail.

Question 20

Homo sapiens

Answer 20

The species of hominids this includes modern humans and heir closest ancestors and that first appeared about 100,000 to 160,000 years ago.

Question 21

Adaptation

Answer 21

A characteristic that improves an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.