| A | B |
|---|
| taxonomy | science of classification according to inferred (presumed) relationships among organisms |
| binomial nomenclature | method for naming organisms using two names - genus and species (both italicized) |
| genus | includes several species; first part of binomial name |
| species | group of organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions to produce fertile offspring |
| taxa | categories used to classify organisms |
| Protista | kingdom including all unicellular organisms like amoeba and multicellular algae |
| Monera | in a 5-kingdom system, includes prokaryotic organisms that lack true nucleus |
| Archaebacteria | in 6-kingdom system, this is a kingdom for prokariotic microorganisms that possess a different cell wall than eubacteria and live in harsh environments like salt lakes and thermal vents |
| Eubacteria | in a 6-kingdom system, this is the prokaryotic organisms that possess a peptidoglycan cell wall ("true bacteria") |
| 6 Kingdoms | Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria |
| phylogeny | history of evolution of a species or group of organisms |
| dichotomus key | a classification key with a series of two branching choices that lead to an organism used to identify living (di means two) |
| paleontology | study of fossils |
| radiometric dating | technique using the half-life of isotopes to determine the age of fossil or rock |
| biogeography | study of the geographic distribution of life on Earth |
| endemic | term used to describe a species that is found in only one location and nowhere else (ex. species on remote islands) |
| homologous features | features with similar structures but different functions (ex. forelimbs in bat, whale, human) |
| analagous features | features that are similar in appearance and function but do not appear to have same evolutionary origin (ex. wings in insects and birds) |
| vestigial feature | rudimentary structures with no useful function ("evolutionary leftover") - ex. tailbone in humans |
| DNA | the molecule that makes up genetic material that provides instructions for traits |
| gene | segment of DNA that provides instructions for specific proteins and determine specific traits of individuals, ex. eye colour |
| artificial selection | process of humans selecting and breeding individuals with desired traits |
| spontaneous generation | belief that living things arose from non-living matter (Lamarck) |
| inheritance of acquired characteristics | false concept of inheritance of features acquired during life of individual - ex. giraffe neck stretching within lifetime to reach food (Lamarck) |
| natural selection | traits become more or less common in a population over time because of the differential (better/worse) reproductive success of individuals with variations in their inherited traits (Darwin) |
| mutation | change in the DNA sequence of chromosomes |
| neutral mutation | a change in DNA sequence that has no effect on the organism |
| fitness | organism's reproductive success |
| harmful mutation | a change in DNA sequence that has reduces an organism's reproductive success |
| beneficial mutation | a change in DNA sequence that increases an organism's reproductive success |
| asexual reproduction | production of offspring from a single parent; offspring inherit genes from only one parent |
| sexual reproduction | production of offspring from union of sex cells from two parents; offspring inherit combination of genes from both parents |
| siblings | offspring from same parent (asexual) or parents (sexual) |
| gene pool | all the genes in a certain population |
| speciation | formation of a new species |
| allopatric speciation | speciation due to reproductive isolation (usually physical barrier separates two populations and evolve to point that individuals can no longer reproduce) |
| theory of gradualism | idea that speciation happens slowly over time |
| theory of punctuated equilibrium | the idea that species evolve rapidly over time followed by a period of little to no change |
| divergent evolution | evolution into many different species |
