Evolution Vocab

21 cards·by polkastripe13

Diversity

Variation

Classification

classifying species

extinct

ceasing to exist

natural history

study of nature

specimens

skeletons, skins, feathers, leaves

artificial selection

humans choosing which traits are passed on

natural selection

traits passed on due to nature

advantageous

organisms with advantages, advantageous variations passed on to offspring

speciation

species can change over time

common descent

similarities, increasing complexity

homologous structures

each species develops differently, many similarities

embryo

multicellular diploid eukaryote

mutation

random change in the genes of an organism

gene pool

all the genetic information in one population

relative frequency

number of alleles per number in gene pool

polygenic

number of phenotypes for a trait depends on the number of genes that control that trait, many traits are controlled by multiple genes

normal distribution

curves in population based on relative frequency of alleles

genetic drift

random changes in allele frequency in populations

genetic equilibrium

no changes in allele frequency

gradualism

evolution is slow and steady through time

punctuated equilibrium

new species produced by rapid changes