Download Evolution Vocabulary

Evolution Vocabulary
“I have…Who has..?”
bottleneck effect
genetic drift resulting from a
drastic reduction in population
size, often caused by natural
disaster
vestigial structure
a structure that has decreased in
size or function; appendix or
whale leg bones are examples
analogous structure
a structures that have the
same function, but are not
evolutionarily related
directional selection
an example of natural selection
that favors one end of a
phenotypic spectrum and acts
against another; example is if
light brown snails were once
favored,
now dark
naturalbut
selection
thatbrown
favors
snails
have better
successrather
intermediate
phenotypes
than the extreme phenotypes
stabilizing selection
Evolution
Change in a population over
time
Natural variation
Differences among individuals
of a species
Artificial selection
When humans select organisms
to breed
Adaptation
An inherited trait that increases
and organism’s chance of
survival
biological species
a group of organisms capable of
interbreeding and producing
fertile offspring
mutation
camouflage
a change in DNA, may
cause evolution in future
populations
when an organism blends in
with their environment
mimicry
when one species evolves to
resemble another species
fossil record
evidence of evolution through
rock strata, preserved
organisms, and differences seen
over millions of years in
geological time
a post-zygotic barrier where
offspring cannot produce
functional gametes, as in mules
hybrid sterility
natural selection
success of populations based on
their phenotypes and how well
they can survive in their
environments
temporal isolation
a pre-zygotic barrier that
happens when organisms breed
at different times
behavioral isolation
a pre-zygotic barrier that
happens when organisms are not
attracted sexually to members of
another species due to traits like
mating dances or calls
geographical isolation
adaptive radiation
founder effect
a physical separation of groups
within a population that may
lead to speciation
the emergence of many
species from one common
ancestor; Darwin’s finches are
an example
random change in a gene pool
that happens when a small group
leaves a larger group
disruptive selection
Natural selection that favors
extreme phenotype and not
average ones
convergent evolution
when unrelated species evolve
similar traits, like a shark and a
dolphin
homologous structure
a structure that has the same
embryological origin, but
different functions; examples
are the arm bones of humans,
birds, and bats
gene pool
gene flow
all the genes in a population
No genes entering or leaving a
population