Cn 3 - bio151

A hierarchical system where species are arranged based on increasing complexity, with the simplest at the bottom and the most complex at the top.

A nested classification system that groups similar species into increasingly inclusive categories, based on shared characteristics.

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, providing evidence of past life.

Layers of sedimentary rock, often containing fossils, which provide a historical record of life on Earth.

The study of fossils, providing insights into the history of life on Earth.

The theory that sudden, catastrophic events, like floods or volcanic eruptions, have shaped the Earth's geological features.

The theory that geological features and biological changes occur slowly and gradually over long periods.

A branching diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between different species.

The process where distantly related organisms evolve similar traits due to adaptation to similar environments.

Features in different species that have similar functions but evolved independently.

The collection of fossils that provides evidence of past life on Earth and its evolution.

A fossil that exhibits traits of both ancestral and descendant groups, showing evolutionary transitions.

The study of the geographic distribution of species and how it relates to evolution.

The gradual movement of Earth's landmasses over time.

A supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, where all landmasses were joined together.

Proposed two principles: use and disuse, and inheritance of acquired characteristics. This theory suggests that organisms can evolve by passing on traits developed during their lifetime to offspring.

Body parts used extensively become stronger, while unused parts deteriorate.

Changes acquired during an organism's lifetime can be passed on to its offspring.

Darwin's five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, where he collected specimens, observed fossils, and gathered evidence to support his theory of evolution.

Darwin observed that fossils resembled living species in the same regions, suggesting a link between past and present life.

Species on the South American mainland resembled species on the Galapagos Islands, suggesting a relationship between island and mainland populations.

Darwin proposed that species from the mainland colonized the Galapagos and diversified on the islands, leading to the unique species found there.

Experiencing an earthquake in Chile, Darwin observed the uplift of rocks containing fossils. He inferred that these fossils were once ocean organisms, suggesting geological changes over time.

The publication of "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin in 1859 marked a pivotal moment in scientific history, initiating the era of evolutionary biology. This work challenged prevailing beliefs of a static Earth and unchanging species.

This phrase, coined by Darwin, encapsulates the concept of evolution. It describes how species gradually accumulate differences from their ancestors over time, adapting to their environments.

The shared characteristics observed among different species highlight the underlying unity of life, suggesting a common ancestry.

The variety of species, each with unique characteristics, reflects the adaptive process of evolution. Different species have evolved diverse traits to thrive in diverse environments.

Living organisms are adapted to their particular environment, both biological (biotic) and physical (abiotic), ensuring their survival and reproduction.

Evolution is understood as both a pattern observed through scientific data, revealing the change of life over time, and a process describing the mechanisms causing that change.

Mantises illustrate the unity of life (shared features like grasping forelimbs) and diversity of life (variation in size, shape, and color). They also show how organisms adapt to their environment.

Life is not static but has changed over time, and this change is driven by adaptations to diverse environments through a process of descent with modification.

When advantageous traits help organisms survive and reproduce more successfully, those traits become more common in the next generation.

Over long periods, natural selection favors advantageous traits, causing them to become more frequent in a population. This leads to organisms becoming better adapted to their environment.

Natural selection emphasizes the survival and reproduction of organisms with heritable traits that are best suited to their environment. This leads to the increase of favorable adaptations in a population.

Evolution occurs in populations, not individual organisms. Natural selection acts on the variations within a population, affecting the frequency of traits over time.

Evolution is supported by strong scientific evidence from various sources, including direct observations, homology, fossil records, and biogeography.

Scientists have documented evolutionary changes in numerous studies. This includes examples like natural selection in response to introduced species and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

When a new species is introduced to an environment, natural selection can favor traits that help organisms utilize the introduced species for food or survival.

Bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics through natural selection. Bacteria with mutations that make them resistant to antibiotics survive and reproduce more, leading to a population of resistant bacteria.

An inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

A process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring.

The idea that organisms have unique characteristics that help them thrive in their particular habitat.

The theory that life on Earth has changed over time through a process of natural selection and descent with modification.

A famous example of Darwin's theory of evolution, where finches on different islands developed different beak shapes adapted to their food sources.