Speciation
The process of one species becoming two species over time
Transitional Forms
1) Can be found in fossil record, but the lack of transitional forms in fossil record Darwin attributed to the rarity of fossilization. 2) Transitional forms might be present in living organisms so that living intermediates are not seen because they conti
Absolute Dating
determine actual age of fossil, compare amount of radioactive element in sample to amount of element into which it breaks down
Relative Dating
method of determining the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with that of fossils in other layers of rock
Sedimentary Rock
The layer in which most fossils are found
Punctuated Equilibrium
Where species appear to exist in the same form for long periods of time, but then some disaster wipes out millions of species all at once and new species rapidly evolve to fill newly empty niches.
Homologous Structures
Structures that look physically similar because they come from a common ancestor, even though they may have different functions now.
Divergent Evolution
An ancestral organism diverged to exploit two or more different ecological niches
Analogous Structures
Look physically similar because they share a common function, but the structures did not come from a common ancestor
Convergent Evolution
when two or more species NOT descended from a common ancestor develop similar traits
Vestigial Structures
remnant of a structure that may have had an important function in a species' ancestors, but has no clear function in the modern species.
Permineralization
The process by which minerals replace parts of an organism.
Carbonization
Process in which plant materials are changed into carbon. Often preserves the parts of plants.
Trace Fossils
fossils that provide evidence of the activities of ancient organisms such as footprints or animal droppings
Observations
A personal experience as seen through one of the senses, influenced by background knowledge and personal experiences
Bloom's Taxonomy
(base to top) Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation
Hypothesis
An educated guess that can be falsified
Falsifiability
the degree to which a scientific theory makes unambiguous predictions that can be tested against the facts
Predictions
Not a single statement but two statements connected with the conditional IF and THEN
Results
Plainly observable things that no one can disagree with
Conclusions
Is an interpretation of the results, and can always be disputed
Variables
the different factors that can change in an experiment
Independent Variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
Dependent Variable
the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
Controlled Variables
Variables in an experiment that are kept the same throughout the experiment.
Theory
is much more than a guess, it is often as close to proof as a scientific idea can get.
Law
Describes the behavior of physical properties we humans define based on our observations
All living things...
Metabolize, sense and respond to the environment, grow and reproduce
Metabolism
set of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or breaks down materials as it carries out its life processes
Homeostasis
the ability of a living thing to keep conditions inside its body constant
Taxonomy
The classification of living things into categories