Unit 4 List 1 Evolution

Question 1

amino acid sequencing

Answer 1

the process of identifying the arrangement of amino acids in proteins and peptides

Question 2

analogous structure

Answer 2

features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure and which do not derive from a common ancestral feature

Question 3

anatomy

Answer 3

The study of the structure of a plant or animal

Question 4

biochemical evidence

Answer 4

the use of molecular biology techniques to study the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms, providing crucial insights into evolutionary relationships.

Question 5

biogeography

Answer 5

the study of the geographic distribution of plants, animals, and other forms of life

Question 6

cladogram

Answer 6

a branching diagram showing the cladistic relationship between a number of species.

Question 7

common ancestry

Answer 7

an ancestral group of organisms that is shared by multiple lineages.

Question 8

descent with modification

Answer 8

passing traits from parent to offspring

Question 9

DNA sequencing

Answer 9

the general laboratory technique for determining the exact sequence of nucleotides, or bases, in a DNA molecule.

Question 10

electrophoresis

Answer 10

a laboratory technique used to separate DNA, RNA or protein molecules based on their size and electrical charge.

Question 11

embryo

Answer 11

Early stage in the development of humans and other animals or plants

Question 12

embryology

Answer 12

the study of development of an embryo from the stage of ovum fertilization through to the fetal stage.

Question 13

evolutionary tree

Answer 13

a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species, organisms, or genes from a common ancestor.

Question 14

fossil record

Answer 14

a collection of fossils documenting the history of life on Earth

Question 15

homologous structure

Answer 15

an organ, system, or body part that shares a common ancestry in multiple organisms.

Question 16

homology

Answer 16

similarity of the structure, physiology, or development of different species of organisms based upon their descent from a common evolutionary ancestor.

Question 17

paleontology

Answer 17

the study of the history of life on Earth as based on fossils

Question 18

phenotypic similarity

Answer 18

a measure of functional redundancy within homologous gene families.

Question 19

phylogeny

Answer 19

the representation of the evolutionary history and relationships between groups of organisms.

Question 20

phylogenetic tree

Answer 20

a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms

Question 21

vestigial structures

Answer 21

features of an organism that are considered to have lost much or all of their original function through evolution

Question 22

sedimentary layers

Answer 22

Sedimentary rocks are laid down in layers called beds or strata. A bed is defined as a layer of rock that has a uniform lithology and texture. Beds form by the deposition of layers of sediment on top of each other.

Question 23

adaptation

Answer 23

the process by which a species becomes fitted to its environment

Question 24

behavior

Answer 24

the change in activity of an organism in response to a stimulus.

Question 25

competition

Answer 25

the rivalry between or among living things for territory, resources, goods, mates, etc.

Question 26

fitness

Answer 26

an organism's ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring

Question 27

gene pool

Answer 27

A gene pool refers to the combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species.

Question 28

genetic variation

Answer 28

the presence of differences in sequences of genes between individual organisms of a species.

Question 29

geographic isolation

Answer 29

the physical separation of populations of organisms from one another due to geographical barriers.

Question 30

morphology

Answer 30

the study of the size, shape, and structure of animals, plants, and microorganisms and of the relationships of their constituent parts.

Question 31

natural selection

Answer 31

the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change over time.

Question 32

phenotypic expression

Answer 32

the observable characteristics in an organism that results from the expression of genes.

Question 33

physiology

Answer 33

the study of how the human body works

Question 34

population

Answer 34

an assortment of organisms of a species that live in the same place at the same time and interbreed.

Question 35

reproductive isolation

Answer 35

the inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences.

Question 36

sexual selection

Answer 36

the process by which individuals compete for access to mates and fertilization opportunities

Question 37

speciation

Answer 37

how a new kind of plant or animal species is created.

Question 38

species

Answer 38

a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

Question 39

trait

Answer 39

a specific characteristic of an individual.

Question 40

Coevolution

Answer 40

where two (or more) species reciprocally affect each other's evolution.

Question 41

Convergent evolution

Answer 41

occurs when organisms that aren't closely related evolve similar features or behaviours, often as solutions to the same problems

Question 42

Divergent evolution

Answer 42

the process by which interbreeding species diverged into two or more evolutionary groups

Question 43

Founder effect

Answer 43

the reduction in genomic variability that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population

Question 44

Gene flow

Answer 44

any movement of individuals, and/or the genetic material they carry

Question 45

Gene frequency

Answer 45

the ratio of the number of a specified allele in a population to the total of all alleles at its genetic locus

Question 46

Gene pool

Answer 46

the combination of all the genes (including alleles) present in a reproducing population or species.

Question 47

Genetic drift

Answer 47

the change in frequency of an existing gene variant in the population

Question 48

Geologic record

Answer 48

the irreplaceable account of the joint history between the Earth and living organisms