| A | B |
|---|
| finches | species of bird found on the Galapagos ISlands that are a great example of natural selection |
| Charles Darwin | spent 5 years on the HMS Beagle, traveling and collecting specimens for research; research helped him develop the idea of natural selection; author-Origin of Species and ~25 other books |
| species | a group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring |
| fossil | preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past |
| adaptation | trait that helps an organisms survive and reproduce |
| evolution | the gradual change in a species over time |
| scientific theory | well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations |
| speciation | formation of a new and distinct organisms, different from any other spcies |
| natural selection | process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than others of the same species. |
| variation | any difference between individuals of the same species (ex. dogs) |
| homologous structure | body parts that are structurally similar in related species; helps to provide evidence that the structure/s were inherited from a common ancestor |
| branching tree | a diagram that shows how scientists think different groups of organisms are related |
| petrified fossil | fossil formed when minerals replace all or part of an organism |
| mold | type of fossil when a shell or other hard part of an organism dissolves, leaving an open space in the shape of the part |
| cast | type of fossil when a mold becomes filled in with minerals that then harden |
| relative dating | technique used to determine which of two fossils is older |
| relative element | unstable element that breaks down into a different element |
| radioactive dating | technique used to determine the actual age of a fossil on the basis of the amount of a radioactive element that it contains |
| extinct | term used to indicate a species that does not have any living members |
| half-life | the time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive element to break down |
| fossil record | collection of the millions of fossils scientists have collected |
| punctuated equilibrium | theory that species evolve during short periods of rapid change |
| gradualism | theory that evolution occurs slowly but steadily |
| mass extinction | when many types of organisms become extinct at the same time |
| Geologic Time Scale | calendar of Earth's history; describes the last 4.6 billion years |
| selective breeding | process of selecting a few organisms with desired traits to serve as parents for the next generation |
| overproduction | when species produce more offspring than can possibly survive. can strain resources |
| competition | due to limited resources organisms will compete with each other to survive |
