Evolution Terminology

1. Abiogenesis - the hypothetical process where life spontaneously formed from organic material that had arisen from inorganic material.
2. Allele - Alternative forms of a genes that can have the same place on homologous chromosomes and are responsible for alternative traits
3. Ardipithicus - An early known human biped ancestor living about 4 to 5 million years ago
4. Astrobiology - that branch of biology that investigates the existence of living organisms on other planets. Similar to Exobiology.
5. Australopithecine - A group of extinct Hominids that are closely related to humans
6. Cambrian - From 500 million to 600 million years ago; marine invertebrates.
7. Chromosome - a threadlike structure in cells that carries genes.
8. Cladistics - A system of biological taxonomy based on the quantitative analysis of comparative data and used to reconstruct trees summarizing the (assumed) phylogenetic relations and evolutionary history of groups of organisms
9. Craniate - Animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium
10. DNA - A nucleic acid consisting of large molecules shaped like a double helix; it is the genetic information and is associated with the transmission of that genetic information
11. Eukaryotic cell - The cells of protozoa, higher plants and animals that are highly structured.
12. Evolution - The theory regarding the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
13. Exobiology - a branch of biology that examines the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. Similar to Astrobiology.
14. Extinct - a species of life that is no longer living.
15. Fossil - A relic or impression of a plant or animal that existed in a past geological age.
16. Gene - A self replicating protein molecule that resides in a chromosome and is part of the DNA construction.
17. Genetic - Dealing with genes. A gene is a unit within chromosomes that trasmite hereditary characteristics.
18. Genetic Drift - the change in frequency in which a gene appears in a population, through mutation, regardless of the adaptive value of the mutation.
19. Hominid - any family of two legged primates, including man.
20. Hominoid - any family of primates.
21. Hypothesis - a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomena that can be tested through experimentation.
22. Invertebrate - having no backbone or spinal column.
23. Macroevolution - large scale change in organisms resulting in new species, genera, families, etc.
24. Mammal - a warm blooded, air breathing vertebrate organism that gives birth to live young that suckle on the milk of their mothers.
25. Microevolution - small scale genetic changes in organisms through mutations resulting in slight changes in an organism.
26. Morphology - The branch of biology that deals with the structure of animals and plants
27. Multicellular Organism -
28. Mutation - an organism exhibiting the result of chromosomal alteration.
29. Natural selection - the process by which an organisms with helpful adaptive qualities are permitted by nature to transmit their genetic information to offspring. It is also the process by which an organism with harmful qualities are removed from the environment.
30. Phylogeny -The sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms
31. PreCambrian - The time before 600 million years ago
32. Primate - any order of animals including man, apes, monkeys, lemurs, etc. characterized by flexible hands and feet.
33. Proto-Chordate - Any member of either of two invertebrate subphyla of the phylum Chordata.
34. Punctuated Equilibrium - the theory that evolution occurs in huge and sudden jumps.
35. Science - systemized knowledge derived through experimentation, observation, and study.  Also, the methodology used to acquire this knowledge.
36. Sexual Selection - A theory concerned with 'the advantages that certain individuals have over others of the same sex and species, in exclusive relation to reproduction'
37. Singularities - a unique or peculiar feature or thing.
38. Species - Taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
39. Synapsid - A group of animals distinguished by having a skull with an extra low opening behind the eyes
40. Taxonomy - A classification of organisms into groups based on similarities of structure or origin etc
41. Tetrapod - any vertebrate having four legs or limbs.
42. Theory - a statement or set of statements used to explain a phenomena.  A theory is generally accepted as valid due to having survived repeated testing.
43. Vertebrate - having a backbone or spinal column.
44. Zoology - that branch of science that deals with animal structures, growth, and classification.