AP Biology Flashcards: Continuing Evolution

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Continuing Evolution, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What type of evolution involves species evolving in response to each other?

Answer: Coevolution. Reciprocal evolutionary changes driven by species interactions.

Flashcard 2: What is the term for the formation of new species from a common ancestor?

Answer: Speciation. Reproductive isolation leads to distinct evolutionary lineages.

Flashcard 3: Which effect describes reduced genetic variation after a population bottleneck?

Answer: Bottleneck effect. Population crashes eliminate many alleles randomly.

Flashcard 4: Which type of selection acts against individuals at one extreme of a trait?

Answer: Directional selection. Shifts trait distribution toward one extreme phenotype.

Flashcard 5: Identify the concept where allele frequencies remain constant in a population.

Answer: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Requires no mutation, selection, migration, or genetic drift.

Flashcard 6: Identify the process where two populations become reproductively isolated.

Answer: Speciation. Geographic or behavioral barriers prevent gene flow.

Flashcard 7: Identify the selection type that reduces the frequency of harmful alleles.

Answer: Purifying selection. Eliminates deleterious alleles to maintain population health.

Flashcard 8: What is the definition of evolution in biological terms?

Answer: Change in allele frequencies in a population over time. Evolution is measured by tracking changes in gene frequencies across generations.

Flashcard 9: Identify the model that suggests evolution occurs in rapid bursts.

Answer: Punctuated equilibrium. Rapid evolutionary change followed by periods of stasis.

Flashcard 10: What is the term for an organism's observable traits?

Answer: Phenotype. Physical expression of genetic information in organisms.

Flashcard 11: What is the term for a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species?

Answer: Population. Members can potentially interbreed and share a gene pool.

Flashcard 12: What is the term for a trait that no longer serves its original purpose?

Answer: Vestigial structure. Remnants of ancestral features lost through disuse.

Flashcard 13: Identify the concept where allele frequencies remain constant in a population.

Answer: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Requires no mutation, selection, migration, or genetic drift.

Flashcard 14: Which process describes the spread of advantageous alleles throughout a population?

Answer: Selective sweep. Beneficial alleles rapidly increase in frequency.

Flashcard 15: Identify the term for changes in a species over time due to environmental pressures.

Answer: Adaptation. Traits that enhance survival in specific environments become common.

Flashcard 16: Which term describes species that evolve from a common ancestor?

Answer: Common descent. All life shares common ancestors through evolutionary history.

Flashcard 17: What is the term for genetic exchange between different populations?

Answer: Gene flow. Movement of alleles between populations maintains genetic diversity.

Flashcard 18: What is the term for the formation of new species from a common ancestor?

Answer: Speciation. Reproductive isolation leads to distinct evolutionary lineages.

Flashcard 19: Which model of evolution describes gradual changes over long periods?

Answer: Gradualism. Continuous, steady accumulation of small evolutionary changes.

Flashcard 20: Identify the concept of a single species evolving into different forms.

Answer: Adaptive radiation. One ancestral species diversifies to fill multiple ecological niches.

Flashcard 21: Identify the process where two populations become reproductively isolated.

Answer: Speciation. Geographic or behavioral barriers prevent gene flow.

Flashcard 22: What is the term for a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species?

Answer: Population. Members can potentially interbreed and share a gene pool.

Flashcard 23: What is the term for genetic changes that occur without affecting fitness?

Answer: Neutral mutation. Changes have no effect on survival or reproduction.

Flashcard 24: Identify the process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar traits.

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar environments produce similar adaptive solutions.

Flashcard 25: What is the definition of a homologous structure?

Answer: Structures with a common evolutionary origin. Similar structures indicate shared evolutionary ancestry.

Flashcard 26: Identify the concept of a single species evolving into different forms.

Answer: Adaptive radiation. One ancestral species diversifies to fill multiple ecological niches.

Flashcard 27: What type of evolution involves species evolving in response to each other?

Answer: Coevolution. Reciprocal evolutionary changes driven by species interactions.

Flashcard 28: What process involves changes in allele frequencies due to chance events?

Answer: Genetic drift. Random changes are strongest in smaller populations.

Flashcard 29: Identify the process by which new genetic variations arise.

Answer: Mutation. DNA changes provide raw material for evolutionary change.

Flashcard 30: What is the term for the gradual change in species over time?

Answer: Evolution. Descent with modification produces biological diversity.

Flashcard 31: Identify the process that causes random changes in allele frequencies.

Answer: Genetic drift. Random sampling of alleles, especially strong in small populations.

Flashcard 32: What type of selection favors intermediate phenotypes over extremes?

Answer: Stabilizing selection. Reduces variation by selecting against extreme phenotypes.

Flashcard 33: Which term describes the phenomenon of decreased diversity after a bottleneck?

Answer: Genetic drift. Random allele loss during population bottlenecks reduces diversity.

Flashcard 34: Which type of selection favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the spectrum?

Answer: Disruptive selection. Selects against average traits, increasing population variance.

Flashcard 35: What is the term for a trait that no longer serves its original purpose?

Answer: Vestigial structure. Remnants of ancestral features lost through disuse.

Flashcard 36: What is the term for genetic changes that occur without affecting fitness?

Answer: Neutral mutation. Changes have no effect on survival or reproduction.

Flashcard 37: What is the term for an organism's observable traits?

Answer: Phenotype. Physical expression of genetic information in organisms.

Flashcard 38: What is the term for the divergence of two species into different forms?

Answer: Divergent evolution. Related species develop different traits in different environments.

Flashcard 39: What is the term for the study of past and present distribution of species?

Answer: Biogeography. Geographic patterns reveal evolutionary and ecological relationships.

Flashcard 40: Which mechanism of evolution results from differential survival and reproduction?

Answer: Natural selection. Organisms with favorable traits reproduce more successfully.

Flashcard 41: What is the term for a reduction in an organism's fitness due to genetic changes?

Answer: Genetic load. Harmful mutations reduce overall population fitness.

Flashcard 42: Which type of selection increases the frequency of a beneficial allele?

Answer: Positive selection. Advantageous mutations spread through populations over time.

Flashcard 43: What process involves changes in allele frequencies due to chance events?

Answer: Genetic drift. Random changes are strongest in smaller populations.

Flashcard 44: Identify the selection type that reduces the frequency of harmful alleles.

Answer: Purifying selection. Eliminates deleterious alleles to maintain population health.

Flashcard 45: What is a measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce?

Answer: Fitness. Higher fitness means greater contribution to future generations.

Flashcard 46: Identify the model that suggests evolution occurs in rapid bursts.

Answer: Punctuated equilibrium. Rapid evolutionary change followed by periods of stasis.

Flashcard 47: What is the term for the study of past and present distribution of species?

Answer: Biogeography. Geographic patterns reveal evolutionary and ecological relationships.

Flashcard 48: Which type of selection favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the spectrum?

Answer: Disruptive selection. Selects against average traits, increasing population variance.

Flashcard 49: Identify the process by which unrelated organisms evolve similar traits.

Answer: Convergent evolution. Similar environments produce similar adaptive solutions.

Flashcard 50: Which effect describes reduced genetic variation after a population bottleneck?

Answer: Bottleneck effect. Population crashes eliminate many alleles randomly.

Flashcard 51: What is the term for genetic exchange between different populations?

Answer: Gene flow. Movement of alleles between populations maintains genetic diversity.

Flashcard 52: What is the definition of evolution in biological terms?

Answer: Change in allele frequencies in a population over time. Evolution is measured by tracking changes in gene frequencies across generations.

Flashcard 53: What is the term for the introduction of new alleles into a population?

Answer: Gene flow. Migration brings new genetic variants into populations.

Flashcard 54: What is the term for the introduction of new alleles into a population?

Answer: Gene flow. Migration brings new genetic variants into populations.

Flashcard 55: Which type of selection increases the frequency of a beneficial allele?

Answer: Positive selection. Advantageous mutations spread through populations over time.

Flashcard 56: Identify the term for changes in a species over time due to environmental pressures.

Answer: Adaptation. Traits that enhance survival in specific environments become common.

Flashcard 57: Which term describes the evolutionary history of a species or group?

Answer: Phylogeny. Evolutionary relationships revealed through genetic and morphological data.

Flashcard 58: Which term describes the evolutionary history of a species or group?

Answer: Phylogeny. Evolutionary relationships revealed through genetic and morphological data.

Flashcard 59: What is the term for a reduction in an organism's fitness due to genetic changes?

Answer: Genetic load. Harmful mutations reduce overall population fitness.

Flashcard 60: Identify the process by which new genetic variations arise.

Answer: Mutation. DNA changes provide raw material for evolutionary change.

Flashcard 61: What is the term for evolutionary changes that occur at or above the level of species?

Answer: Macroevolution. Large-scale patterns of evolutionary change across taxa.

Flashcard 62: What is the term for the gradual change in species over time?

Answer: Evolution. Descent with modification produces biological diversity.

Flashcard 63: What type of selection favors intermediate phenotypes over extremes?

Answer: Stabilizing selection. Reduces variation by selecting against extreme phenotypes.

Flashcard 64: Which process describes the spread of advantageous alleles throughout a population?

Answer: Selective sweep. Beneficial alleles rapidly increase in frequency.

Flashcard 65: Which model of evolution describes gradual changes over long periods?

Answer: Gradualism. Continuous, steady accumulation of small evolutionary changes.

Flashcard 66: Which term describes the phenomenon of decreased diversity after a bottleneck?

Answer: Genetic drift. Random allele loss during population bottlenecks reduces diversity.

Flashcard 67: Identify the selection type that acts against both extreme phenotypes.

Answer: Stabilizing selection. Maintains population around the optimal phenotypic mean.

Flashcard 68: What is the definition of a homologous structure?

Answer: Structures with a common evolutionary origin. Similar structures indicate shared evolutionary ancestry.

Flashcard 69: Which type of selection acts against individuals at one extreme of a trait?

Answer: Directional selection. Shifts trait distribution toward one extreme phenotype.

Flashcard 70: Which term describes species that evolve from a common ancestor?

Answer: Common descent. All life shares common ancestors through evolutionary history.

Flashcard 71: Identify the selection type that acts against both extreme phenotypes.

Answer: Stabilizing selection. Maintains population around the optimal phenotypic mean.

Flashcard 72: What is a measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce?

Answer: Fitness. Higher fitness means greater contribution to future generations.

Flashcard 73: What is the term for the divergence of two species into different forms?

Answer: Divergent evolution. Related species develop different traits in different environments.

Flashcard 74: Which mechanism of evolution results from differential survival and reproduction?

Answer: Natural selection. Organisms with favorable traits reproduce more successfully.

Flashcard 75: What is the term for evolutionary changes that occur at or above the level of species?

Answer: Macroevolution. Large-scale patterns of evolutionary change across taxa.