Life Science Chapter 6 Vocabulary: Adaptations Over Time

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15 terms · Life Science. Chapter 6. Vocabulary. Mrs. Robasky. Seventh grade. 2011.


any variation that makes an organism better suited to its environment.


study of embryos and their development.


change in inherited characteristics over time.


model describing evolution as a slow process by which one species changes into a new species through a continuing series of mutations and variations over time.


humanlike primate that appeared about 4 million to 6 million years ago, ate both plants and meat, and walked upright on two legs.

Homo sapiens

early humans that likely evolved from Cro-Magnons.


body parts that are similar in structure and origin and can be similar in function.

natural selection

a process by which organisms with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce; includes concepts of variation, overproduction, and competition.


group of mammals including humans, monkeys, and apes that share characteristics such as opposable thumbs, binocular vision, and flexible shoulders.

punctuated equilibrium

model describing the rapid evolution that occurs when mutation of a few genes results in a species suddenly changing into a new species.

radioactive element

element that gives off a steady amount of radiation as it slowly changes to a nonradioactive element.

sedimentary rock



a group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can reproduce among themselves producing fertile offspring.


inherited trait that makes an individual different from other members of the same species and results form a mutation in the organism's genes.

vestigial structure

structure, such as the human appendix, that doesn't seem to have a function and may once have functioned in the body of an ancestor.

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