Biology Evolution And Classification

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evolution

Back 1

change in a kind of organism over time

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theory

Back 2

well-tested explanation unifies a broad range of observations

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fossil

Back 3

preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism

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artificial selection

Back 4

selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms

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struggle for existence

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competition among members of a species for food, living space, and the other necessities of life

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fitness

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ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment

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adaptation

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inherited characteristics that increases an organism's chance of survival

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survival of the fittest

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process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

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natural selection

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process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

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descent with modification

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principle that each living species has descended, with changes, from other species over time

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common descent

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principle that all living things were derived from common ancestors

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homologous structure

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structures that have different mature forms in different organisms but develop from the same embryonic tissues

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vestigal organ

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organ that serves no useful function in an organism

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genetic drift

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random change in allele frequencies that occurs in small populations

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founder effect

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change in allele frequencies as a result of migration of a small subgroup of a population

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specification

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formation of new species

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reproductive isolation

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separation of species or populations so that they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring

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behavioral isolation

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form of reproductive isolation in which two populations have differences in courtship rituals or other types of behavior that prevent them from inbreeding

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adaptive radiation

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process by which a single species or small group of services evolves into several different forms that live in different ways

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temporal isolation

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form of reproductive isolation in which two populations reproduce at different ways

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adaptive radiation

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process by which a single species or small group of species evolves into several different forms that live in different ways

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convergent evolution

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process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

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punctuated equilibrium

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pattern of evolution in which long stable periods are interrupted by brief periods of more rapid change

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taxonomy

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discipline of classifying organisms and assigning each organism a universally accepted name

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binomial nomenclature

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classification system in which each species is assigned a two-part scientific name

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cladogram

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diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms