Chapter 17 Vocabulary Flashcard

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Genus

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One or more physically similar species that are thought to be closely related.

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Mitochondrial DNA

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What is found only in mitochondria.

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Molecular Clocks

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Models that use mutation rates to measure evolutionary time.

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Ribosomal RNA

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What is found in ribosomes.

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Derived Characters

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Traits that can be used to figure out evolutionary relationships among a group of species that are shared by some but not present in others.

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Species

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A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

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Evolution

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The process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms.

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Natural Selection

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The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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Mutation

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A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.

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Phylogenetic Tree

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A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among various biological species.