The relative probability that a hereditary
characteristic will be reproduced; the degree of the reproductive
efficiency of the characteristic. Also known as Genetic
Fitness.
Loss of a chromosomal segment.
A period of time lasting from 408 million to
360 million years ago in the earth's history.
A reptile that lived millions of years ago.
Also classed as two types: mainly predatory and herbivorous types.
Herbivorous types usually have long necks.
Diploidy
The condition of having two sets of
chromosomes in each cell.
The natural selection for traits at one
extreme of a range of traits in a population and against
intermediate traits and traits at the other extreme.
The appearance and establishment of more than
one species from one original species. Also known as
cladogenesis.
Evolutionary pattern that refers to the
origin of new populations from old ones; more specifically, two or
more species that originate from a common ancestor.
Natural selection for both ends of extreme or
unusual traits in a population and against common traits. Similar
to Disruptive Selection.
The substance within the chromosomes that
carries hereditary instructions and directs the production of RNA.
The genetic information is contained within the sequence of
nucleotides that make up the chainlike DNA molecules. This
information determines the sequence of amino acids in the proteins,
including enzymes responsible for the organism's fundamental life
processes.
An inherited trait expressed by an organism in its physical
appearance regardless of whether the gene controlling the trait is
homozygous or heterozygous; the dominant allele of that gene.
Addition of a chromosomal segment.