| A | B |
|---|
| Evolution | a change in the genetic make up of organisms over time |
| Proto-cells | a structure with a spherical membrane that allows the inside to be different from the environment outside of the structure |
| Fossil Record | preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past |
| Homologous structures | structures that are similar in related organisms because they came from a common ancestor, but the structures can now have different functions |
| Convergent evolution | unrelated organisms that similar characteristics due to living in the same environment |
| Analogous structures | structures that are similar in unrelated organisms and have the same function |
| DNA Similarities | all living creatures have DNA for their genetic information; those with more similarity in the sequence of their DNA have a more recent common ancestor |
| Similar embryonic development | similar steps of early development are seen in organisms that are related |
| Mutation | a change in one or more genes; provides variation |
| Biogeography | study of how and why plants and animals live where they do |
| Natural selection | different genetic characteristics can increase the ability of some members of a population to survive and produce off-spring with those characteristics, causing that characteristic to become more common |
| Artificial selection | when organisms are selectively bred to get specific characteristics in the off-spring |
| Microevolution | a change in the frequency (%) of an allele in a population |
| Macroevolution | many changes that lead to the development of a new species |
| Hardy-Weinberg Principle | says that the frequency (%) of an allele in a population won't change from one generation to the next if certain conditions are met |
| Non-random mating | when one phenotype (variation)is more likely to mate and pass on characteristics |
| Gene drift | random change in the allele frequency in a small population due to a random event |
| Gene flow | when individuals move into or out of a population |
| Divergent evolution | when many organisms that share a common ancestor have evolved into many different species |
| Species | can mate and produce fertile off-spring under natural conditions |
| Frequency of an allele | how common (%) an allele is in a population |
| RNA first | belief that RNA formed before DNA because RNA is a simpler molecule, it can exist outside the nucleus of a cell, and some can act as enzymes |
| Cladogram/Phylogenetic Tree | depiction of a group of related organisms, showing which are most closely related to each other |
| Prokaryotes | simple celled creatures with no nucleus or membrane bound organelles |
| Punctuated equilibrium | evolution does not occur at a constant rate; sometimes a lot of evolution has occurred over a short period of time with long periods of time with little evolution |
| Endosymbiotic Theory | suggests that small prokaryotic cells may have moved into larger prokaryotic cells and generated extra energy for their host; over time the two cells became dependent on each other. |
| Vestigial organs | structures that are no longer needed by some organisms will still be present, but in a reduced size |
