| Term | Definition |
|
genetic drift |
a change in allele frequencies of a population due to a chance process |
|
speciation |
the formation of a new species from a single ansestoral species |
|
allopatric speciation |
occurs when a popuation is seperated by a geographical barrier |
|
sympatry |
when a subpopulation becomes reproductively isolated in the midst of a parent population |
|
polyploidy |
abrupt formation of a new species form non-disjunction |
|
divergent evolution |
geographical and reproductive isolation of a population from the main gene pool |
|
adaptive radiation |
the emergence of many species each adapted to a specific ecological niche |
|
convergent evolution |
independent evolution of adaptive features in different species |
|
parallel evolution |
evolution of similar features not present in the ancestoral form in two or more related species |