Evolution Flashcard 2025

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What is convergent evolution?

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Convergent evolution is the process where organisms from different evolutionary backgrounds develop similar traits or adaptations due to similar environmental pressures.

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What is artificial selection?

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Artificial selection is the process by which humans breed organisms for specific traits that are desirable, influencing the genetic makeup of future generations.

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What does 'descent with modification' mean?

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Descent with modification refers to the principle that all living organisms have evolved from past organisms and have changed over time, adapting to their environments.

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What are mutations?

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Mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome, which can lead to new traits.

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What is fitness in evolutionary terms?

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In evolutionary terms, fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.

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What is adaptive radiation?

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Adaptive radiation is the process by which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

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What is divergent evolution?

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Divergent evolution occurs when two or more related species become more dissimilar over time, often due to different environmental pressures.

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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 the founder effect?

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The founder effect is a genetic phenomenon that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic diversity.

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What is the role of the environment in evolution?

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The environment plays a crucial role in evolution by exerting selective pressures that influence which traits are advantageous for survival and reproduction.