| A | B |
|---|
| Species | a group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertitle offspring |
| Scientific theory | a well tested concept that explains a wide range of observations |
| Evolution | The gradual change in a species over time |
| Adaptation | a trait that helps an organismsurvive and reproduce |
| natural selection | the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce |
| Fossil | the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past |
| sedimentary rock | rock formed when layers of sediments harden over millions of years |
| Petrified fossil | a fossil formed when minerals replace all or parts of an organism |
| Mold fossil | a hollow space in sediment in the shape of an organism |
| Cast fossil | a copy of the shape of the dead organism |
| Relative dating | a technique used to determine which of two fossils is older |
| variations | differences between members of the same species |
| absolute dating | how scientists determine the actual age of a fossil |
| extinct | a species thatno longer has any living members |
| punctuated equilibria | a theory that agrees with fossil records that shows no intermediate forms for long periods of time (short rapid periods of change) |
| homologous structures | similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor |
| branching tree diagram | a diagram that shows how scientists think different groups of organisms are related |
| overproduction | creating more offspring than can possibly survive |
| species | organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring |
| geographic isolation | separation of a group of organisms from the rest of its species by a physical barrier such as a mountain range |
| continental drift | the way inwhich Pangaea split apart |
| sedimentary rock | where most fossils are found |
| half-life | the length of time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay |
| 4.6 billion | the estimated age of Earth according to scientists |
| precambrian | the first era in the geologic time scale |
| paleozoic era | the second era in the geologic time scale |
| mesozoic era | the third era in the geologic time scale |
| cenozoic era | the present era |
| The history of earth is broken down in to a timeline known as the | geologic time scale |
| How do most fossils form? | when a dead organism becomes buried in sediment |
| Scientists combine fossils, body structures, early development and DNA to... | determine the evolutionary relationships among species |
| Why have unique organisms evolved in Australia, which are not found on other continents? | because Australia became isolated due to continental drift |
| T or F Humans lived at the same time as the dinosaurs? (At the end of the age of the dinosaurs | False |
| Which famous scientist proposed the modern theory of evolution? | Charles Darwin |
| Which type of traits cannot lead to evolution? | acquired traits |
| The millions of fossils that scientist have collected is called the | fossil record |
| If the half life of a radioactive element is 4 days, how long will it take for three fourths of a sample of the element to decay? | 8 days |
| Entire insects have been perfectly preserved in... | amber (tree sap) |
| What is the name of the supercontinent? | Pangaea |
| How do remains become petrified? | when minerals replace all or part of an organism |
| What are the four resources that individuals of the same species compete for? | food, water, shelter and mates |
| In which era did humans first appear? | end of the cenozoic |
| In which era did we first see life? | Precambrian |
| If two species are closely related, their DNA would be expected to ... | have very similar nitrogen bases |
| The age of the Fishes | Paleozoic Era |
| Unstable elements that break down and decay at a steady rate, changing into different elements are called | radioactive elements |
| In which era did we see major ice ages reoccuring | Cenozoic Era |
| How do scientists determine which of two elements is older | relative dating |
| The Age of the Dinosaurs | Mesozoic Era |
| Most fossils are found in | sedimentary rock |
| The era in which we are living in now | Cenozoic Era |
| The Age of the Mammals | Cenozoic |
