Descent with Modification definitions Flashcards

The gradual change in heritable traits within a biological population over successive generations, driven by mechanisms like natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation.

Observable traits of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genetic makeup and environmental influences.

The theory that organisms can pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring, influenced by use or disuse of body parts.

Variants of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome, influencing specific traits.

The process where heritable traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common in a population over generations due to differential reproductive success.

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce, often influenced by heritable traits that enhance survival and reproductive success in a given environment.

A trait that enhances an organism's fitness, maintained and evolved through natural selection, allowing better survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

When organisms develop darker pigmentation due to industrial pollution, enhancing their survival by better camouflage in a polluted environment.

The process by which humans selectively breed organisms to enhance desired traits, leading to significant changes in the species over generations.

Traits that exhibit intermediate forms between ancestral and descendant species, illustrating evolutionary transitions.

Structures or attributes that have lost their original function through evolution but still persist in an organism, like the remnants of hind legs in whales.

Study of the form, structure, and configuration of organisms, including aspects like shape, size, and arrangement of parts, often used to understand evolutionary relationships and adaptations.

The total genetic diversity found within a population or species, encompassing all the different alleles of every gene present.

Differences in DNA among individuals in a population, leading to diverse traits that can be inherited and influence survival and reproduction.

Compromises between traits where an advantage in one aspect may lead to a disadvantage in another, affecting an organism's overall fitness and evolutionary success.