Evolution Terminology
- Abiogenesis - the hypothetical process where life spontaneously
formed from organic material that had arisen from inorganic material.
- Allele - Alternative forms of a genes that can have the same place on homologous
chromosomes and are responsible for alternative traits
- Ardipithicus
- Astrobiology - that branch of biology that investigates the existence of living
organisms on other planets. Similar to Exobiology.
- Australopithecine -
- Cambrian - From 500 million to 600 million years ago; marine invertebrates.
- Chromosome
- a threadlike structure in cells that carries genes.
- Cladistics - A system of biological taxonomy based on the quantitative analysis
of comparative data and used to reconstruct trees summarizing the (assumed) phylogenetic
relations and evolutionary history of groups of organisms
- Craniate - Animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented
spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium
- DNA - A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix;
it is the genetic information and is associated with the transmission of
that genetic information
- Decent of Modifications
- Eukaryote cell
- Evolution -
The theory regarding the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a
species or taxonomic group of organisms
- Exobiology - a branch of biology that examines the possibility of life existing
elsewhere in the universe. Similar to Astrobiology.
- Extinct - a species of life that is no longer living.
- Fossil - A relic or impression of a plant or animal that existed in a past
geological age.
- Gene
- A self replicating protein molecule that resides in a chromosome
and is part of the DNA construction.
- Genetic - Dealing with genes. A gene is a unit within chromosomes that trasmite
hereditary characteristics.
- Genetic Drift - the change in frequency in which a gene appears in a population,
through mutation, regardless of the adaptive value of the mutation.
- Hominid - any family of two legged primates, including man.
- Hominoid -
a sub-category of primates that includes Humans (Homonids) as well
as the great apes (Pongids) and the lesser apes (Hylobates).
- Hypothesis - a tentative
explanation for an observation or phenomena that can be tested
through experimentation.
- Invertebrate - having no backbone or spinal column.
- Macroevolution - large scale change in organisms resulting
in new species, genera, families, etc.
- Mammal -
a warm blooded, air breathing vertebrate organism that gives birth
to live young that suckle on the milk of their mothers.
- Microevolution - small scale genetic changes in organisms
through mutations resulting in slight changes in an organism.
- Morphology - The branch of biology that deals with the
structure of animals and plants
- Multicellular Organism -
- Mutation - an organism exhibiting the result of
chromosomal alteration.
- Natural selection - the process by which an organisms with
helpful adaptive qualities are permitted by nature to transmit their genetic information
to offspring. It is also the process by which an organism with harmful qualities are
removed from the environment.
- Phylogeny -The sequence of events involved in the
evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
- PreCambrian - The time before 600 million years ago
- Primate - any order of animals including man, apes,
monkeys, lemurs, etc. characterized by flexible hands and feet.
- Proto-Chordate -
- Punctuated Equilibrium - the theory that evolution occurs
in huge and sudden jumps.
- Science - systemized knowledge derived through
experimentation, observation, and study. Also, the methodology
used to acquire this knowledge.
- Sexual Selection -
- Singularities - a unique or peculiar feature or thing.
- Speciation by infestation -
- Species - taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
- Synapsid -
- Taxonomy - A classification of organisms into groups based
on similarities of structure or origin etc
- Tetrapod - any vertebrate having four legs or limbs.
- Theory
- a statement or set of statements used to explain a
phenomena. A theory is generally accepted as valid due to
having survived repeated testing.
- Vertebrate - having a backbone or spinal column.
- Zoology - that branch of science that deals with animal
structures, growth, and classification.
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