6th Study Flashcard

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What is punctuated equilibrium?

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Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology that suggests species remain stable for long periods, with significant changes occurring in relatively short bursts, often due to environmental changes.

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Who proposed the theory of punctuated equilibrium?

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Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould proposed the theory of punctuated equilibrium in 1972.

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What hypothesis did Eldredge and Gould challenge with their research?

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They challenged Darwin's hypothesis that the development of species is a slow, gradual process.

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What is an example of a species that benefits from mimicry?

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The viceroy butterfly benefits from mimicry by resembling the monarch butterfly, which is unpalatable to predators.

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What does a phylogenetic tree represent?

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A phylogenetic tree represents the evolutionary relationships among various species based on genetic similarities.

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What is genetic drift?

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Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population.

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is gene flow?

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Gene flow is the transfer of genetic variation from one population to another, which can affect allele frequencies.

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What are transitional fossils?

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Transitional fossils are fossils that show the intermediate states between an ancestral form and that of its descendants.

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What is the significance of the fossil record in studying evolution?

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The fossil record provides evidence of the history of life on Earth and shows patterns of evolution over time.