| Evolution | Change in genetic composition of a population during successive generations [may result in development of new species] |
| Microevolution | Small scale variation of allele frequencies within a species or population in which decendents are of the same taxonomic group as the ancestor |
| Macroevolution | Variation of allele frequencies at/above the level of species over geological time, resulting in the divergence of taxonomic groups [decendents are of a different taxonomic group as the ancestor] |
| Comparative Genomics | Field of biological research in which the genomic sequences and associated gene products of multiple individuals are compared with computer-based analysis. |
| Evolutionary Radiation | Results in an increase in taxonomic diversity [origin of new species from a common ancestor] and morphological variation → caused by new ecological niche or freeing up old ecological niche |
| Mass Extinction | Widespread event defined as a loss of 75% of all species over a geologically 'short' period of time |
| Gene Flow | The movement of alleles in or out of a gene pool due to movement of fertile individuals |
| Genetic Drift | Random events cause unpredictable changes in allele frequencies from one generation to the next |
| Founder Effect | "Colonising chance event": when small population spearates from larger population → new population has a less diverse gene pool → different allele frequencies. |
| Bottleneck Effect | "Catastrophic chance event": drastic population reduction → leads to a limited gene pool, decreased genetic diversity, and potential negative impacts on adaptation and survival. |
