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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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re=again,
combine=mix

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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

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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

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biology
primus=first

pro=before
kary=cell nucleus

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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

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