 Here is a list
of terms that are rather essential for the discussion of evolution.
This will also serve as a review of important biological concepts that
help us understand evolution.
number of pairs of chromosomes in a human
= 23 therefore 46 chromosomes that include the XY complex
allele - a form of a gene often dominant and recessive
species -
a population that cannot interbreed with
another
genotype - the trait on an individual chromosome
phenotype - the actual physically expressed trait that an
individual develops
karyotype - the actual pictogram of the 23 pairs of chromosomes
base/pair - the nucleotides that lay across from each other on DNA and are
bonded loosely with H bonds, A-T and G-C
replication - creating a new DNA structure
transcription - reading the information on DNA and building an mRNA
molecule to take the information out of the nucleus for protein synthesis
homozygous - when both alleles of a gene re the same (dominant
of recessive)
heterozygous - when the alleles of a gene are different
mutation - when a gene in is changed in any way , mutations happen
randomly and a results of radiation, chemical, heat, etc.
>>> mutation is the ultimate source of evolutionary change
gene pool - the sum of the genetic material within a population
evolution - a change in the gene pool that leads to
micro/macroevolution
macroevolution - formation of a new species
microevolution - a smaller change in the gene pool of a population
that confers upon the individuals a distinct characteristic usually
adaptive but often neutral
fitness - ability to produce offspring relative to others in a
population gradualism -
the idea that change to the geology of earth happens very slowly over time
punctuated equilibrium - the idea
that evolutionary change happens in bursts after long periods of
equilibrium
homologous/analogous structures - batwings and fly wings are analogous
structures (same function evolved from
different forms) our
arms and the flippers of a whale
are homologous (evolved from the same
structure) |
