A feature that allows an organism to better survive its environment

The branch of science that is dedicated to naming and describing different species.

This scientist believed that if an animal (like a giraffe) stretched out its neck for extended periods of time, it would lengthen its neck, and that characteristic would be passed down to further generations.

The theory that the Earth became what it is today through a string of natural disasters.

a system in which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring on average than other individuals (with non-favorable adaptations) do.

This scientist was the first to propose that all life forms descended from a common ancestor. He also proposed that more complex life forms arose from less complex life forms.

The difference in physical traits

The ability of an organism to survive and pass its genes on to future generations.

The most broad (least specific) group in the Linnaean System

The theory that land masses go through changes slowly, and over long periods of time.

The process by which humans choose which traits get passed onto the next generation

Variation that occurs among members of the same species.

When the DNA and body functions of organisms are changed to help them survive.

Variation that occurs among members of different species.

When organisms change their patterns of behavior to survive.

This scientist published a book called Histoire Naturelle, believed all organisms had a common ancestor, and believed that the Earth was over 6000 years old.

Came up with the theory of Natural selection, and published a book called On the Origin of Species.

The most specific (least broad) level of classification in the Linnaean System

The smallest unit of geologic time, typically lasting millions of years.

The largest unit of geologic time and can last billions of years.

The belief that the universe is approximately 4.5 billion years old and spontaneously came into existence due to favorable conditions is

This era existed between 200 and 65 million years ago, and contains the jurassic period.

This occurs when between 60% and 75% of species alive go extinct each time. These typically mark the end of an Era.

A method used to determine the age of rocks by using the decay of radioactive isotopes.

The boundaries that occur when two tectonic plates are moving apart from one another are

The belief that the universe and living things originate from certain acts of divine creation by a divine being is

The thought that younger layers of rock are deposited on top of older rock layers is known as

This era started 56 million years ago and still exists today. It is characterized by the appearance of mammals

The boundaries that occur when two tectonic plates collide with one another are

The outermost layer of the Earth. Is broken up into 9 major tectonic plates.

This era existed between 488 and 251 million years ago. It was characterized by the appearance of land plants, invertebrates during the Cambrian Explosion

The boundaries that occur when two tectonic plates slide past one another are

A method used to determine the age of rocks by comparing them with those in other layers.

The layer of the Earth that is made up of molten rock (magma), ranges from 870 ℃ - 2200 ℃, and is the largest of the layers is the

Preserved tree sap traps an entire organism and then hardens into this. This preserves the trapped organism.

This type of fossil is an impression of an organism.

This type of fossil forms when empty pore spaces of the organism are filled in by minerals.

This type of fossil is any indirect evidence left by an organism. (Footprints, burrows, fossilized feces, etc.)

This is the preservation of the actual organism itself. Mummification and freezing allow for this type of fossils to be created.

This type of fossil is a mold that is filled with sediment.

This type of fossil forms when the original material of an organism is replaced with mineral crystals that can leave detailed replicas of hard or soft parts.

A specific type of genetic drift that occurs after a small number of individuals colonize in a new area.

Isolation caused by differences in courtship or mating behaviors

The movement of alleles into or out of a population

The process in which two or more species evolve in response to changes in each other.

Evolution that happens within a single species, and is typically powered by genetic drift, gene flow, mutations, and natural selection.

Changes in the DNA of a living organism

Occurs when members of the same species can no longer successfully reproduce with one another

When the allele frequencies of a population change due to a random event

Evolution toward similar characteristics in different, unrelated species

An anatomical feature that no longer seems to have a purpose in the current form of a particular species

When a body part of one species closely resembles that of another, we call these parts __________________________.

_________________________ is created by mutations, or changes, in the DNA of a living organism

The type of sexual selection occurs when males display certain traits that attract females to them is ______________________________.

Evolution that happens above the species level is called _______________________.

___________________________ is a measure of how often an allele, or trait, appears in a population.

________________________ is a specific, and extreme type of genetic drift that occurs when an event happens and very few of the population survives.

When closely related species evolve in different directions, they go through a process called ___________________________.

The rise of two or more species from one existing species is called ________________________.

The type of sexual selection that involves competition amongst males is ______________________________.

______________________________ takes place when evolutionary differences occur due to physical boundaries dividing a population into two or more groups.

___________________________ is the process of the passing of the good, or favorable, mutations from parent to offspring.

The similarities in the characteristics of the shark, a fish, an ichthyosaur, a reptile, and a dolphin, a mammal is an example of ______________________.

Hummingbirds’ beaks taking the shape of the flowers they eat from is an example of ___________________________.

Rams fighting/headbutting with the prize for the winner being a female is an example of ___________________________.

A wildfire could cause this extreme type of genetic drift to take place. ___________________________.

You can see the ______________________ today in Old Order Amish populations, and their high rate of Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome.

Male peacocks displaying their tail feathers to attract a female is an example of ______________________________.

The structure of the human arm, bat wing, horse leg, and dolphin fin give us an example of _________________________.

The fact that Lions, Tigers, Jaguars, and Pumas all descended from a common ancestor is an example of __________________________.

The different fur colors that squirrels have is an example of _________________________.

What does this curve show?

What does this curve show?

What does this curve show?

What does this curve show?