Sciensts who conduct studies of fossils.
An era which lasted from 545 million years ago to 245 million
years ago in the earth's history. It consists of the Cambrian
Period, Ordovician Period, Silurian Period, Devonian Period, and
Carboniferous (Mississipian/Pennsylvanian) Period.
An evolutionary pattern that describes two related species or
lineages that have made similar evolutionary changes after their
divergenece from a common ancestor.
The formation of a new species between populations of a
continuous cline.
A period of the earth's history lasting from 286 million years
ago to 245 million years ago
The appearance of an organism as a result of its genetic
material and allelic combinations.
A food-making process that occurs in green plants. Green plants
use energy from light to combine carbon dioxide and water to make
food.
A direct line of descent, usually within a species.
Macroevolutionary theory that evolution occurs by the gradual
accumulation of small changes.
The evolutionary history of development of an animal or plant
species.
A unit of scientific classification which comes after order but
before species in terms of biological relationships.
The study of the functions of living things.
An epoch of time lasting from 2 million to 10,000 years ago in
the earth's history. More commonly known as the Ice Age.
An epoch of time lasting from 7 million to 2 million years ago
in the earth's history.
A gain of one or more entire sets of chromosomes; the formation
of a new species via such a gain.
The number or amount of organisms in a community (or species).
Postzygotic Reproductive Isolating Mechanism
Reproductive isolating mechanism that takes effect after
fertilization by reducing the fertility of hybrids or their
progeny.
Precambrian
Era
A period of time that lasted from 5 billion years ago to 545
million years ago in the earth's history. Consists of the
Archaeozoic (Archean) Era and the Proterozoic Era.
Prezygotic Reproductive Isolating Mechanism
Reproductive isolating mechanism that takes effect before
fertilization via ecological, temporal, behavioral, mechanical,
morphological, and gametic isolation.
Primates are members of the group of mammals made up of human
beings and the animals that resemble them most closely. They make
up the order Primates in the class Mammalia.
Substances made up of amino acids. A cell's structures are built chiefly of proteins.
An era in the earth's history lasting from 2.5 billion years ago
to 545 million years ago. It is marked by the emergence of advanced
multicellular life.
Macroevolutionary theory which argues that evolutionary history
consists of long periods of time of little or no evolution, which
are "punctuated," or interrupted, by very short periods of quick
evolution.