Biology-B, Unit 1 Exam (2023/2024) Graded A

Biology-B, Unit 1 Exam (2023/2024) Graded A convergent evolution the appearance of apparently similar structures in organisms of different lines of descent homologous structures structures derived from a common ancestor or same evolutionary or developmental origin vestigial structures an anatomical feature that no longer seems to have a purpose in the current form of an organism of the given species 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 natural selection the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring; called "survival of the fittest" descent with modification the passing on of traits from parent organisms to their offspring differential reproduction the principle that in nature those individuals best able to adapt to their environment will survive and reproduce Lamarck a theory of organic evolution asserting that environmental changes cause structural changes in animals and plants that are transmitted to offspring Darwin a proponent of the theory of evolution by natural selection Alfred Wallace British naturalist who was influenced by the ideas of Malthus and Lyell and corresponded with Darwin about his ideas on natural selection stabilizing selection the process by which the intermediate form of a trait in an organism is selected and given preference over the extreme forms disruptive selection extreme values for a trait are favored over intermediate traits genetic drift is a process that causes allele frequencies to fluctuate unpredictably from one generation to the next genetic equilibrium a balance of alleleic frequencies; If a population exists in genetic equilibrium, then it is assumed that it is not evolving. phenotypic variations variation in an organism's observable characteristics or traits endosymbiotic theory A theory stating that the eukaryotes evolved through a process whereby different types of free-living prokaryotes became incorporated inside larger prokaryotic cells Miller-Urey experiment Demonstration that electric discharges simulating lightning can cause common chemicals to form life-like materials to simulate the early Earth mass extinction is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth radiometric dating a method of dating geological or archeological specimens by determining the relative proportions of particular radioactive isotopes present in a sample absolute dating the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology population a group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time