Key Concepts in Evolutionary Biology

Evolution

• The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

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

• A change in the genetic sequence that can lead to variation in traits.

• The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

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Natural Selection

• The total collection of genes and alleles in a population.

• Remains or impressions of organisms from the past, often used as evidence of evolutionary change.

• A characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

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

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Adaptation

• A species from which two or more species evolved.

• The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

• A characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

• The study of embryos and their development, which can provide evidence for evolution.

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Variation

• The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems across geographic space and time, often supporting the idea of evolution.

• Differences between individuals in a population, which may lead to differential survival and reproduction.

• Body parts in different species that are similar because of shared ancestry.

• Environmental factors that influence which traits are beneficial for survival and reproduction.

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Mutation

• The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

• Remains or impressions of organisms from the past, often used as evidence of evolutionary change.

• The total collection of genes and alleles in a population.

• A change in the genetic sequence that can lead to variation in traits.

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Speciation

• The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

• Remains or impressions of organisms from the past, often used as evidence of evolutionary change

• A species from which two or more species evolved.

• The total collection of genes and alleles in a population.

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Fossils

• Body parts that have similar functions in different species but do not share a common ancestry.

• Remains or impressions of organisms from the past, often used as evidence of evolutionary change.

• Body parts in different species that are similar because of shared ancestry.

• The study of embryos and their development, which can provide evidence for evolution.

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Common Ancestor

• The total collection of genes and alleles in a population.

• Environmental factors that influence which traits are beneficial for survival and reproduction.

• A species from which two or more species evolved.

• The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems across geographic space and time, often supporting the idea of evolution.

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Gene Pool

• The total collection of genes and alleles in a population.

• Environmental factors that influence which traits are beneficial for survival and reproduction.

• The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

• Body parts in different species that are similar because of shared ancestry.

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Homologous Structures

• Body parts in different species that are similar because of shared ancestry.

• Body parts that have similar functions in different species but do not share a common ancestry.

• The study of embryos and their development, which can provide evidence for evolution.

• The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems across geographic space and time, often supporting the idea of evolution.

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