Evolution Vocabulary

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Across
  1. 2. body parts in different species that have a similar function but different evolutionary origins and structures
  2. 8. the mechanisms, behaviors, and physiological processes that prevent members of two different species from interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
  3. 11. the process by which new species evolve from a single ancestral population while inhabiting the same geographic location, without physical isolation
  4. 15. the physical separation of populations of the same species by geographic barriers—such as mountains, rivers, oceans, or deserts—that prevent interbreeding and gene flow
  5. 16. the process where two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution through close ecological interactions, such as predator-prey, parasite-host, or mutualism
  6. 17. traits, structures, or genes in different species that share a common evolutionary origin, even if their current functions differ
  7. 18. the preserved evidence of an ancient organism’s activity or behavior, rather than its physical body.
  8. 20. remains of organisms used by paleontologists to define specific geologic time periods and determine the relative age of rock strata
  9. 21. the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct, reproductively isolated species
Down
  1. 1. the formation of new species occurring when populations are geographically separated by physical barriers
  2. 3. the process where closely related species with a common ancestor evolve different traits, becoming more distinct over time due to different environmental pressures
  3. 4. the change in the heritable characteristics, or genetic composition, of a population over successive generations
  4. 5. a process or trait that helps an organism or thing adjust to its environment, making it better suited to survive and thrive
  5. 6. established that all species of life have descended from common ancestors, proposing the scientific theory of evolution by natural selection
  6. 7. the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring
  7. 9. the process where unrelated or distantly related organisms independently evolve similar traits, body forms, or behaviors due to adapting to similar environments or selective pressures.
  8. 10. the rapid diversification of a single ancestral line into many new species, each evolving distinct, specialized traits to exploit different ecological niches
  9. 12. a close, long-term, and physical relationship between two different species, often where they live together
  10. 13. the branch of biology that studies the formation, growth, and development of an embryo and fetus from fertilization until birth or hatching.
  11. 14. a form of reproductive isolation where closely related species do not interbreed because they mate or flower at different times
  12. 19. the change in the frequency of gene variants (alleles) in a population over time due to random chance, rather than natural selection