Evolution Vocabulary

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

Change in a kind of organism overtime

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

Well tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations

Question 3

Fossil

Answer 3

Preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism

Question 4

Artificial selection

Answer 4

Selection by humans for breeding of useful treats from the natural variation among different organisms

Question 5

Struggle for existence

Answer 5

Competition among members of a species for food living space and other necessities of life

Question 6

Fitness

Answer 6

Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment

Question 7

Adaptation

Answer 7

Inherited characteristics that increases and organisms chance of survival

Question 8

Survival of the fittest

Answer 8

Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

Question 9

Natural selection

Answer 9

Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

Question 10

Dissent with modification

Answer 10

Principle that each living species has descended, with changes, from other species overtime

Question 11

Common descent

Answer 11

Principle that all living things were derived from common ancestors

Question 12

Homologous structures

Answer 12

Structures that have different mature forms in different organisms but develop from the same embryonic tissues

Question 13

Vestigial organ

Answer 13

Organ that serves no useful function in an organism

Question 14

Gene pool

Answer 14

Combined genetic information of all the members of a particular population

Question 15

Directional selection

Answer 15

Form of natural selection in which the entire curve moves

Question 16

Stabilizing selection

Answer 16

Form of natural selection by which the center of the curve remains in its current position

Question 17

Disruptive selection

Answer 17

Form of natural selection in which a single curve split into two

Question 18

Genetic drift

Answer 18

Any random change in a gene pool of the population due to change

Question 19

Founder effect

Answer 19

Migration of a small subgroup establishes the gene pool of a new population

Question 20

Speciation

Answer 20

New species is formed

Question 21

Reproductive isolation

Answer 21

Separation of species or population so that they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring

Question 22

Behavioral isolation

Answer 22

Two populations have differences in courtship rituals or other types of behavior that prevent them from interbreeding

Question 23

Geographic isolation

Answer 23

Two populations are separated physically by geographic barriers such as mountains, rivers, or stretches of water

Question 24

Temporal isolation

Answer 24

Two populations reproduce at different times

Question 25

Macro evolution

Answer 25

Large scale evolutionary changes that take place over a long period of time

Question 26

Adaptive radiation

Answer 26

Single species or small groups of species evolves into several different forms that live in different ways

Question 27

Convergent evolution

Answer 27

Unrelated organisms independently of all of similarities when adapting to similar environments

Question 28

Coevolution

Answer 28

Two species evolve in response to changes in each other

Question 29

Punctuated equilibrium

Answer 29

Pattern of evolution in which long stable periods are interrupted by brief periods of more rapid change