Test #2 (Semester 2)

process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called survival of the fittest

the shared ancestor of new, different species that arose from one population

change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms

some sort of preserved remain of a life form (extinct or still alive) Types: petrification, amber (sap), tar, ice, sedimentary rock)

when a structure trapped in sediments is replaced by minerals

estimates the age of a fossil based on its placement in a layer of rock

uses mathematical formulas to study the amount of radioactive isotopes in a fossil

they are unstable because they have the wrong number of neutrons

natural processes like solar radiation and star formation

the amount of time it takes half a radioactive isotope to decay into a new stable element

C-14: carbon 14; becomes N in 5,730 years (used to study recent bones) U-238 becomes Pb in 4.5 billion years (used to study petrified fossils)

Proposed that by using or not using certain body parts, an organism develops certain characteristics. He thought that these enhanced characteristics would be passed on to offsprings. “INHERITANCE OF ACQUIRED TRAITS” ex: kangaroos didnt used to have big legs, giraffes stretched to get food

Because the characteristics would have modified the DNA in order to be inherited and there is no evidence of this

Father of EVolution noticed that the plants and animals throughout the continent all had a definite South American character. They were distinct from the species of Europe. Even the fossils he found were unique. Some fossils were gigantic versions of modern day animals. His observations supported the idea that species living in SOuth America today were descended from ancestrial species on that continent upbringing: men were doctors, interested in natural theology

the slow processes of mountain building and erosion suggested an Earth that must be very old these slow and gradual processes occurring over vast spans of time could cause enormous change on earth

influenced Darwin greatly gradualism

the islands Darwin went to

essay explains how human suffering was due to the fact that populations grow faster than resources can be produced All life must struggle/compete to exist

a trait that allows an organism to survive in its environment • help survive • help attract a mate

similar structure found in more than one species that shared a common ancestor

remnant of a structure that may have had a larger function in a species ancestors but has a lesser function today. ex: whale hip bones, snakes leg bones

the dark moths live better in the dark forest/places with polution; the light moths live better in the ligh forest

if the bugs survive being sprayed with a pesticide, they will reproduce and have babies who are resistant to the pesticide

the germ is resistant to medicine so it wont die and it will reproduce