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| inherited characteristics that increase an organism's chance of survival |
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| process by which a single species or small group evolves into several different forms that live in different ways; rapid growth in the diversity of a group of organisms |
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| selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms |
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| form of reproductive isolation in which two populations have differences in courtship rituals or other types of behavior that prevent from interbreeding |
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| principle that all living things have a common ancestor |
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| process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments |
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| over long periods of time, natural selection produces organisms that have different structures, establish different niches, or occupy different habitats |
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| individuals at one end of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals at the middle or other end of the curve |
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| form of natural selection in which a single curve splits into two; occurs when individuals at the upper and lower ends of a curve have higher fitness then individuals in the middle |
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| change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms |
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| one of several subdivisions of time between the Precambrian and the present |
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| term used to refer to a species that has died out |
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| information about past life, including the structure of organisms, what they ate, what ate them, in what environment they lived, and the order in which they lived |
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| change in allele frequency as a result of the migration of a small subgroup of a population |
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| ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment |
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| form of reproductive isolation in which two populations are separated physically by geographic barriers such as rivers, mountains, or stretches of water |
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| random change in allele frequencies that occurs in small populations |
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| situation in which allele frequencies remain constant |
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| combined genetic information of all the members of a particular population |
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| principle that allele frequencies in a population will remain constant unless one or more factors cause the frequencies to change |
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| similarities in physical structures that have similar function |
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| distinctive fossil used to compare the relative ages of fossils |
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| large-scale evolutionary changes that take place over long periods of time |
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| individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most sucessfully; survival of the fittest |
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| pattern of evolution in which long stable periods are interrupted by brief periods of more rapid change |
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| method of determining the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with that of fossils in other layers of rock |
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| separation of species or populations so that they cannot interbreed and produce fertile offspring |
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| occurs when individuals near the center of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals at either end |
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| process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; natural selection |
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| form of reproductive isolation in which two populations reproduce at different times |
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| structure that serves no useful function in an organism |
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| process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other |
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