Evolution Overview Quiz

The study of how organisms have changed over time, resulting in the diversity of life we see today.

A concept that describes the idea that all organisms on Earth have evolved from a common ancestor.

A hierarchical classification system that categorizes organisms based on their shared physical characteristics.

The scientific study of classifying organisms based on their similarities and differences. It involves grouping organisms into categories like species, genera, families, etc.

The first edition of a book by Carolus Linnaeus that presented his system of classifying organisms using binomial nomenclature.

A system of naming organisms with two words, the genus and species, that is still used today.

A French naturalist known for his work Histoire naturelle, which included early discussions on evolution.

The idea that different regions, despite having similar environments, have distinct plants and animals.

A French anatomist who studied fossils and proposed the theory of catastrophism to explain extinctions.

The idea that geological changes occur slowly and gradually over long periods, driven by processes like erosion.

A French naturalist who proposed a theory of evolution based on the inheritance of acquired characteristics, which is now considered incorrect.

A British political economist who wrote about population growth and limited resources, which influenced Darwin's theory of natural selection.

A British geologist who proposed the theory of uniformitarianism, which expanded on gradualism.

A British naturalist who independently developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, around the same time as Darwin.

The process by which organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in a particular environment are more likely to pass those traits on to their offspring.

Inherited characteristics that increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

The study of the evolutionary history of organisms, often represented as a branching diagram (phylogenetic tree) that shows the relationships between species.

Structures in different species that have a common origin but may have different functions.

Structures in different species that have similar functions but evolved independently, without a common ancestor.

The study of the development of an organism from its earliest stage to adulthood.

Structures that have lost their original function over evolutionary time. They may be reduced in size or have no apparent use.

The study of the distribution of organisms on Earth and the evolutionary processes that have shaped their distribution.

The process of breeding organisms with desirable traits to create offspring with those traits.

The study of the relationship between the evolutionary development of an organism (ontogeny) and its evolutionary history (phylogeny).

A controversial idea that claimed to scientifically justify racism and prejudice.

A biological process that involves producing more organisms than can survive due to limited resources, leading to competition.

The remains or traces of ancient organisms preserved in rocks or sediments.

Changes to genetic material, resulting in new traits or variations among individuals.

The process by which populations of living organisms change over time through adaptation, genetic variation, and natural selection.

A population that has a limited number of individuals, leading to increased chances of genetic drift and changes in allele frequencies.

The process by which a new species arises from an existing one.

The study of the development of embryos, which can provide evidence for evolutionary relationships.

A field of study that combines evolutionary biology with computational methods to analyze and understand evolutionary patterns.