Evolution

Term list

Biological term Description

The study of humans, including the different belief systems,
Anthropology
customs and social habits.
Australopithecus The genus of the fossil ‘Little Foot’
Biogeography The distribution of species in different parts of the world
Any genetic change in a population that is inherited over several
Biological evolution generations. These changes may be small or large, noticeable or
not so noticeable.
Bipedalism The ability of an organism to walk on two limbs
Extinction The permanent disappearance of a species from earth
The opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal
Foramen magnum
cord enters
The mineralised remains of organisms that have lived in the
Fossils
past
Hominidae/Hominids The family to which humans belong
Homo habilis The first Homo species to use tools
Similar structures on different organisms that suggest they have
Homologous structures
a common ancestor
A tentative explanation of a phenomenon that can be tested
Hypothesis
and may be accepted or rejected
The process by which organisms best suited to survival in the
Natural selection environment achieve greater reproductive success, thereby
passing advantageous characteristics onto future generations
The hypothesis that states that modern humans/Homo sapiens
Out of Africa hypothesis
originated in Africa and migrated to other parts of the world
Palaeontology Study of fossils
A diagrammatic representation showing possible evolutionary
Phylogenetic tree/cladogram
relationships among different species
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same
Population
habitat at the same time
Type of evolution involving long periods of time when species
Punctuated equilibrium
do not change and short periods of rapid change
Quadrupedal The ability of an organism to walk on four limbs
Process whereby new species are formed from the original
Speciation
population
A group of organisms which can interbreed to produce fertile
Species
offspring
Explanation of an observation that is supported by facts, models
Theory
and laws