Evolution Vocab Chart

TR.VOCAB.
4A
biology
Word
1. absolute dating
Definition
The process of determining a specific date/age of
a fossil using radioactive materials
Root
2. adaptation
Inherited characteristic that increases an

organisms survival
adaptare=to fit to
3. analogous
structure
Parts of animals that have the same function, but

different structure, ex. the wings of a bee and
hummingbird
analogos=
proportionate
4. ancestor
Relative from which you descended
antecessor=
predecessor
2009
183
Visual/Mnemonic Related Words
Biology Reteaching Resource
TR.VOCAB.4A
5. artificial
selection
biology
When a human selects which organisms breed in artes=something
order to develop desired traits, ex. improved
made
milk production in cows or disease resistant
strains of plants
6. coevolution
Process by which two species evolve in response

to changes in each other and evolve to fit together
better
co=with, together
7. convergent
evolution
When distantly related organisms live in similar

environments and independently start to develop
similar (analogous) structures, ex. the dolphin
and shark, have similar fins
convergere=together
8. Darwin
Developed the theory of natural selection which

says that the most fit organisms are more likely
to survive and reproduce
2009
184
TR.VOCAB.4A
biology
9. embryo
Organism in its early stages of development,

similar embryos indicate a common ancestor
10. eukaryote
Organism that is made up of cells that contains a

nuclei
11. evolution
genetic changes in a species over time; slow

process of change from one form to another
2009
eu=true
kary=cell nucleus
evolvere=change
185
TR.VOCAB.4A
biology
12. evolutionary
tree
Family or phylogenetic tree which represents

organisms who share a common ancestor and
shows evolutionary relationships
13. extinction
Disappearance of a species
ex=out, away
14. fossil
Preserved remains or evidence of an ancient

organism
fossilis=dug up
15. Galapagos
Islands
Where Darwin studied bird populations and

developed his theory of natural selection
2009
186
TR.VOCAB.4A
16. gene pool
biology
Combined genetic information of all members of
a particular population
17. genetic
recombination
The process by which a strand of DNA is broken

and then joined to a different DNA molecule
(crossing over)
18. half-life
Length of time required for half of the

radioactive atoms in a sample to decay, how
scientists absolutely measure the age of a fossil
19. hierarchy of
classification
Way to organize all living things using the

following taxonomic categories in order:
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus,
Species
2009
187
re=again,
combine=mix
TR.VOCAB.4A
20. homologous
structure
biology
Limbs that function differently and look
homo=same
differently on the outside yet have similar internal
bone structure, indicates a common ancestor
21. Lamarck
Said that organisms evolve in one generation by

will and these changes are passed on to
offspring, ex. giraffes stretched their necks to
reach food and then their babies were born with
long necks
22. natural
selection
Process by which individuals better suited to

their environment survive and reproduce most
successfully; also called survival of the fittest
2009
188
TR.VOCAB.4A
23. primate
A mammal of the order Primates and includes

humans, monkeys, apes, lemurs
24. prokaryote
Unicellular organism lacking a nucleus
25. radioactive
dating
Technique in which scientists calculate the age

of a sample based on the amount of remaining
radioactive material it contains
2009
biology
primus=first
pro=before
kary=cell nucleus
189
TR.VOCAB.4A
biology
26. relative dating
Method of determining the age of a fossil by

comparing its placement with that of fossils in
other layers of rock
27. transitional
forms
In-between species that link old versions of a

species to new, indicates a common ancestor
28. variation
differences that exist between individuals of the

same species
vary=different
29. vestigial
structure
Structures in an organism that are no longer used;

evidence of a common ancestor; ex- human
appendix, whale pelvis
vestigium=
footprint
2009
190

Evolution Vocab Chart

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TR.VOCAB.

Inherited characteristic that increases an

Parts of animals that have the same function, but

Relative from which you descended

Visual/Mnemonic Related Words

Biology Reteaching Resource

Process by which two species evolve in response

When distantly related organisms live in similar

Developed the theory of natural selection which

Biology Reteaching Resource

Organism in its early stages of development,

Organism that is made up of cells that contains a

genetic changes in a species over time; slow

Biology Reteaching Resource

Family or phylogenetic tree which represents

Preserved remains or evidence of an ancient

Where Darwin studied bird populations and

Biology Reteaching Resource

The process by which a strand of DNA is broken

Length of time required for half of the

Way to organize all living things using the

Biology Reteaching Resource

Said that organisms evolve in one generation by

Process by which individuals better suited to

Biology Reteaching Resource

A mammal of the order Primates and includes

Unicellular organism lacking a nucleus

Technique in which scientists calculate the age

Biology Reteaching Resource

Method of determining the age of a fossil by

In-between species that link old versions of a

differences that exist between individuals of the

Structures in an organism that are no longer used;

Biology Reteaching Resource

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