Evolution and Descent with Modification

The process of change in living things over time. It explains the similarities and differences in organisms.

The idea that all living things share a common ancestor and have changed over time, adapting to different environments.

The shared characteristics observed in different species, indicating descent from common ancestors.

The wide variety of living organisms, reflecting the adaptations to different environments.

Similar structures in different species that share a common evolutionary origin but have different functions.

One process driving evolution, where traits beneficial for survival and reproduction become more common in a population over time.

A well-supported explanation for how life evolves and diversifies.

Evolution is both the mechanism of change and the result of it; it describes both how and what has changed.

Early system of grouping organisms into categories (animal, vegetable, mineral) based on similarities.

Categories like Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species used to organize living things.

Two-name system for naming species (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Shifting the understanding of organisms from unchanging to changing over time.

Idea that the world and living organisms evolve slowly but continuously over time.

Concept that population growth leads to limited resources and affects populations (applicable to biology).

Gradual change in organisms over generations, although his mechanism was inaccurate.

Finding evidence of extinct organisms showcasing change over time.

Structures that have similar function but different evolutionary origins.

Study of how life has changed and diversified over time.

Stories about the origin of life and the world, often found in different cultures.

Aristotle's concept of a linear hierarchy of organisms, with humans at the top.

Focuses on how life arose and changed over time using scientific methods.

Separates the origins of life from the subsequent changes (evolution).

Stories that explain aspects of the environment or the world. Used in cultures, to explain concepts.

Characteristics that do not change over time.

These birds on the Galapagos Islands are similar in many ways but have different beak shapes, which are adapted to their specific diet.

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

The impact of predators on a prey population, affecting the evolution of the prey's adaptations.

Evidence of past life preserved in rocks, providing insights into the history of life on Earth.

A diagram showing the evolutionary relationships between different species, based on shared ancestry.

Fossil evidence shows how the elephant lineage evolved over millions of years, with some extinct ancestors having different features.

Points on an evolutionary tree where branches diverge, representing a common ancestor shared by the descendant groups.

Understanding the origin of a trait by identifying the last common ancestor that possessed it.

Descendants inherit the developmental processes of their ancestors, limiting the traits they can develop.

The best explanation for the diversity and processes of life, supported by abundant evidence, but constantly refined with new discoveries.

An example of traits that may not necessarily be beneficial for survival but may be advantageous for attracting mates.

The process where humans intentionally breed organisms with desirable traits, leading to changes in a species over generations. This is driven by human intervention, not natural pressures.

A real-world example of how beak length in soapberry bugs evolves based on the food source. Bugs with beaks too long or too short for the food struggle, while those with optimal beak length thrive.

An organism's ability to change its physical traits (phenotype) in response to environmental conditions during its lifetime, even without genetic changes.

A demonstration of phenotypic plasticity. Two rhinoceros beetles, despite potentially having the same genes, can develop different horn sizes based on their access to resources.

Natural selection acts on genetic differences passed down over generations, while phenotypic plasticity emphasizes changes within an individual's lifetime, often in response to environmental cues.

Traits that arise through natural selection which allow an organism to survive and reproduce more successfully in a specific environment.

An example of an evolutionary adaptation where an insect has evolved to look like the grass it lives on, providing protection from predators by blending in with its surroundings.