Evolution and Classification Flashcards

Key Concepts in Evolution and Classification

• Evolution: Gradual change in populations over long periods, driving diversity in life forms.
• Natural Selection: Process where individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more effectively, leading to evolutionary changes.
• Adaptation: Adjustments in organisms that enhance their survival in changing environments.
• Fitness: A measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.

Fossils and Geology

• Fossils: Preserved remnants or impressions of extinct organisms, crucial for understanding evolutionary history.
• Superposition: Principle stating that in undisturbed rock layers, younger rocks are found above older ones, aiding in dating geological events.

Comparative Anatomy

• Homologous Structures: Similar anatomical features in different species, evidencing common ancestry (e.g., forelimbs of mammals).
• Analogous Structures: Similar traits in unrelated species due to convergent evolution, showing adaptation to similar environments (e.g., wings of bats and butterflies).
• Vestigial Structures: Body parts that have lost their original function over time, like the human tailbone, reflecting evolutionary history.

Evolutionary Processes

• Phylogeny: The historical development and evolution of a species or group, often illustrated in diagrams.
• Convergent Evolution: Independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages facing similar selective pressures.
• Divergent Evolution: Process where two or more species with a common ancestor evolve distinct traits over time.
• Coevolution: Reciprocal evolutionary changes in two interacting species.

Speciation and Biodiversity

• Speciation: The process through which new species arise.
• Morphology: Study of the form and structure of organisms, providing insights into evolutionary relationships.
• Biodiversity: Variety of life forms within a specific area, encompassing species, habitat, and genetic diversity.

Classification Systems

• Binomial Nomenclature: A two-part naming system for organisms comprising the genus and species names.
• Systematics: The scientific discipline that focuses on classifying organisms based on evolutionary relationships.
• Phylogenetics: Analysis that determines relationships and common ancestry among species.
• Cladogram: A diagram illustrating evolutionary relationships based on shared derived characteristics amongst organisms.

Evolutionary Principles

• Shared Characteristics: Common features (e.g., DNA, cell membrane) among all living organisms, indicating shared ancestry.
• Derived Characteristics: Traits unique to one or a few species, useful for distinguishing evolutionary lineages.
• Clade: A group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants, representing a branch on the evolutionary tree.
• Variation: Genetic differences within a population that create the potential for natural selection.
• Overproduction: The phenomenon where species produce more offspring than can survive, leading to competition for resources.
• Descent with Modification: Concept that species evolve adaptations suitable for their environment over generations.
• Survival of the Fittest: Individuals best adapted to their environment have higher reproductive success, shaping natural selection.

Influential Figures

• Charles Darwin: Recognized as the father of evolution, his theories on natural selection and common descent fundamentally changed biological science.

Explore key concepts of evolution and classification through interactive flashcards. This study guide includes terminology like natural selection, adaptation, and fitness to help you master the topic. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of evolutionary biology.