allopatric speciation
The formation of a new species as a result of an ancestral population's becoming isolated by a geographic barrier.
analogy
similarity between two species that is due to convergent evolution rather than to descent from a common ancestor with the same trait
binomial
The two-part latinized name of a species, consisting of genus and specific epithet
biological species concept
The definition of a species as a population or group of populations whose members have the potential in nature to interbreed and produce fertile offspring; a biological species is also called a sexual species.
clade
A taxonomic grouping that includes only a single ancestor and all of its descendants
cladistics
biological classification system based on phylogeny; assumes that as groups of organisms diverge and evolve from a common ancestral group, they retain derived traits
class
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders
convergent evolution
the process by which unrelated species become more similar as they adapt to the same kind of environment
domain
Most inclusive taxonomic category; larger than a kingdom
exaptation
the phenomenon of a structure evolving for one purpose and later being adapted for a different function
family
(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera
genus
a classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species
geologic time scale
scale used by paleontologists to represent evolutionary time; Earth's history organized into four eras: Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic,
kingdom
the largest group into which living things can be classified, a basic group of natural objects
macroevolution
large-scale evolutionary changes that take place over long periods of time.
order
taxonomic group containing one or more families
paedomorphosis
phylogenetic change that involves retention of juvenile characters by the adult
phyla
Taxonomic subsets below the kingdom level, the second largest taxonomic category in the animal kingdom, A taxonomic category. Phyla are divided into classes.
phylogenetic tree
diagram showing evolutionary relationships of organisms with a common ancestor; resembles a tree
phylogeny
(biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms, the evolutionary history of an organism
postzygotic barriers
("after the zygote") if a sperm cell from one species does overcome prezygotic barriers and fertilizes an ovum from another species, these barriers prevent the hybrid zygot from developing into a viable, fertile adult
prezygotic barriers
barriers that prevent mating between species/prevention of egg fertilisation
punctuated equilibrium
evolutionary model suggesting species often diverge in spurts of relatively rapid change, followed by long periods of little change
radiometric dating
determination of absolute ages of rocks and fossils through calculations based on a radioactive isotope's fixed rate of decay
speciation
process of evolution of new species that occurs when members of similar populations no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring within their natural environment
species
a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring
sympatric speciation
occurs when a species evolves into a new species in an area without a geographic barrier.
systematics
the classification of living organisms in terms of their natural relationships; it includes describing, naming, and classifying the organisms
taxonomy
practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships
three domain system
(1)Bacteria (2)Archaea (3)Eukaryota
allo
other
patric
country
bi
two
nom
name
con
together
ex
beyond
macro
large
paedo
child
morphosis
shaping
post
after
pre
before
sym
together
patri
habitat