Evolution

• What are homologous structures?


  Similarity in animal bone structure that hints common ancestry. Common structures include limbs, arms and spines
• What are Vestigial Structures?


  Something that no longer has use but has remained throughout evolution
• How is embryology evidence for evolution?

  Most organisms appear the same during the first stages of embryonic development
• What is radiometric dating?


  Using half-lives of an element to determine the age of a fossil
• What is relative dating?


  Determining the age of a fossil by comparing it to the geological position of other rocks
• How does DNA evidence show evolution?

  Comparing amount of differences in genes of organisms over time
• How does bacteria show evolution?

  The same type of bacteria can evolve quickly to resist antibiotics at a high level
• What is variation?


  The difference of traits between organisms in a poluation
• What is mutation?


  a change in the DNA of an organism to cause a different phenotype
• What is adaptation?


  A change in traits that helps an organism survive in it's environment.
• What is fitness?


  a word to describe how well an organism has adapted to it's environment
• What is evolution?


  The change in heritable traits in living things over time
• What is natural selection?


  The process where evolution occurs, often referred to as "Survival of the Fittest"
• What is selective breeding?


  Where humans intentionally breed animals to target selected traits
• What is stabilizing selection?


  A type of natural selection that favors the average phenotype and reduces variation in a population.
• What is directional selection?


  Selection that favors individuals at one extreme of a trait distribution.
• What is disruptive selection?


  Selection that favors extreme phenotypes over intermediate ones.
• What is the bottleneck effect?


  When a random, small population of the organism survives, causing a sudden change in allele frequency
• What is the founders effect?

  When a number of organisms establish a new population somewhere, changing allele frequencies
• What is allele frequency?


  The frequency of a specific allele in a population.
• How does the fossil record show evidence of evolution?

  Changes in inherited traits over time
• What is gene flow?


  The transfer of genetic material from one population to another.
• How does gene flow affect genetic diversity?

  It restricts the movement of genes in a population