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Flashcards in Evolution Deck (12)
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1
Q

Natural selection

A

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believe to be the main process that brings about evolution. Ex: wether, dieses, Predators

2
Q

Competition

A

Competition interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed. Limited supply of at least one resource (such as food, water, and territory) used by both can be a factor

3
Q

Evolution

A

Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations

4
Q

Divergent Evolution

A

Divergent evolution is the accumulation of differences between groups which can lead to the formation of new species usually a result of diffusion of the same species to different and isolated environment which blocks the gene flow population is allowing differentiated fixation of characteristics. Ex: green iguana- marine iguana and land iguana

5
Q

Convergent evolution

A

In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution is the process whereby organisms not closely related (not monophyletic), independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt a similar environments or ecological niches. Ex: dolphin+sharks
mammal, fish
Birds+moths

6
Q

Speciation

A

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution

7
Q

Adaptation

A

Any alteration in the structure or function of an organism or any of its parts that results from natural selection and by which the organism becomes better fitted to survive and multiply in its environment

8
Q

Selective pressure

A

Differential mortality or fertility that tends to make a population change genetically.

9
Q

Artificial Selection

A

The breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits. Organisms with the desired traits, such as size or taste are artificially mated or cross-pollinated with organisms with similar desired traits. Ex everything in the grocery store is artificial selection

10
Q

Fitness

A

The genetic contribution of an individual to the next generations gene pool relative to the average for the population usually measured by the number of offspring are close to reproductive age.
Is the more offspring that you have

11
Q

Homologous structure

A

It’s when different animals have bones that appear very similar in form or function and seem to be related

12
Q

Vestigial structure

A

Are often homologous to structures that are functional normally in other species. Ex. Tale bone is a leftover in the humans. Legs on the whale.