Evolutionary Biology Terminology

noun Ancestry refers to a person's family or ethnic background, including their lineage or heritage.

• She traced her ancestry back to the early settlers of the region.
• I'm really interested in learning more about my ancestry.
• My ancestry is a mix of different backgrounds and cultures.
• The old mansion held secrets of its ancestry in the dusty attic.

adjective relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral

• The scientist observed an atavistic trait in the newly discovered species.
• I heard that some people believe in atavistic behavior being passed down through generations.
• Dude, that old car is so atavistic, it's like a blast from the past.
• Her atavistic fear of spiders stemmed from a childhood trauma.

noun the arrangement of events in the order of their occurrence

• The historian meticulously studied the chronology of events to accurately portray the sequence of historical events.
• I need to double-check the chronology of dates for my history project.
• I totally messed up the chronology of that story I was telling, oops!
• The chronology of her life events seemed to unfold like a carefully scripted movie plot.

noun a hypothetical form of animal assumed to have been a common ancestor of two or more distinct species

• The missing link in the investigation was finally discovered through DNA evidence.
• We found the missing link to the puzzle - turns out it was hidden in the last file.
• I finally found the missing link to my outfit - these shoes tie everything together perfectly.
• Communication is the missing link in their relationship, causing misunderstandings and conflicts.

adjective relating to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms

• The phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationships among different species.
• Scientists used phylogenetic methods to study how different animals are related.
• I heard that new study used some fancy phylogenetic stuff to figure out how plants are connected.
• The phylogenetic tree of languages shows how different languages have evolved and branched out over time.

noun a summary or concise review of main points or events

adjective related to or characteristic of a recapitulation

• The professor concluded the lecture with a thorough recapitulation of the main points.
• Let me give you a quick recapitulation of what we discussed earlier.
• I'll do a recapitulation of the game highlights for you.
• The artist's painting was a beautiful recapitulation of nature's beauty.

noun the act of moving or going backward

• The country's economy experienced a period of retrogression due to poor policy decisions.
• The team's performance showed signs of retrogression in the last few games.
• His fashion sense is so retro, it's like he's stuck in a time of retrogression.
• The lack of innovation in the company led to a retrogression in their market position.

adjective characterized by a backward or declining movement or direction

• The decision to cut funding for education is seen as a retrogressive step by many experts.
• Going back to using flip phones seems retrogressive in today's tech-savvy world.
• Dude, that old school haircut is so retrogressive!
• His retrogressive mindset is like trying to drive a car in reverse - you're not going to get very far.

noun the process by which individuals of a species choose a mate based on certain traits or characteristics

• Sexual selection is a key mechanism in the evolution of certain traits in species.
• Did you know that peacocks' extravagant feathers are a result of sexual selection?
• Those birds be flexing their looks to attract mates, thanks to sexual selection.
• Just like in the animal kingdom, human courtship can also be seen as a form of sexual selection.

noun a person who practices cladistics, a method of classification of animals and plants according to the proportion of measurable characteristics that they have in common

• The cladist analysis revealed the evolutionary relationships among the species.
• The cladist study showed how the animals are related to each other.
• I heard that cladists are like the detectives of the evolutionary world.
• Just like a cladist traces the history of species, we can trace our own family tree.

adjective referring to an animal that walks with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground, such as a human or bear

• The plantigrade stance is characterized by the entire sole of the foot making contact with the ground.
• Did you know that humans are plantigrade animals because we walk on the soles of our feet?
• I can't believe how tired my plantigrade feet are after standing all day.
• Her plantigrade approach to problem-solving involved taking each step carefully and methodically.

noun a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth, often caused by catastrophic events

• The mass extinction event wiped out a large percentage of the Earth's species.
• Dude, did you know about the mass extinction that happened millions of years ago?
• That mass extinction was like the ultimate wipeout for the dinosaurs.
• The economic recession caused a mass extinction of small businesses in the area.

noun a method of classification of animals and plants according to the proportion of measurable characteristics that they have in common

• Cladistics is a method used in biological classification to determine evolutionary relationships among organisms based on shared characteristics.
• I find cladistics fascinating because it helps us understand how different species are related to each other.
• Cladistics is like a family tree for animals, showing who is related to whom based on their traits.
• In the world of science, cladistics is like putting together a puzzle to figure out the connections between different species.

noun the evolutionary history of a species or group of related species

• The study of phylogeny helps us understand the evolutionary relationships between different species.
• Learning about phylogeny can show us how different animals are related to each other.
• Figuring out the family tree of animals is what phylogeny is all about.
• Exploring phylogeny is like unraveling the branches of a vast evolutionary tree.

adjective describing something that is not related to birds

• Non-avian dinosaurs were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates of the Mesozoic era.
• Did you know that non-avian dinosaurs were actually covered in feathers?
• Those non-avian creatures were pretty badass, huh?
• The non-avian species ruled the prehistoric world with their massive size and strength.

noun a person who studies ants

• The myrmecologist conducted research on ant behavior in the rainforest.
• My friend is a total ant nerd - he's a myrmecologist!
• I never knew studying ants could be so cool until I met that myrmecologist dude.
• As a myrmecologist of human behavior, she was able to uncover fascinating insights into social interactions.

noun a geological era that began 65 million years ago and continues to the present, characterized by the development of mammals and birds

• The Cenozoic era is also known as the Age of Mammals, spanning from 66 million years ago to the present.
• The Cenozoic era is when all the cool animals like mammoths and saber-toothed tigers lived.
• The Cenozoic era was like the ultimate party for mammals, they were living it up!
• The Cenozoic era was like the dawn of a new age for life on Earth, with so many evolutionary changes taking place.

noun Acanthopteri - a taxonomic group of spiny-finned fishes including the perch and bass

• The acanthopteri is a diverse group of fish characterized by spiny rays on their fins.
• I find it fascinating how the acanthopteri have adapted to different environments.
• Check out those cool spiky fins on the acanthopteri!
• Like the acanthopteri, sometimes we need to develop our own defenses to navigate through life.

noun a taxonomic group of teleost fishes characterized by spiny fins

• The Acanthopterygii is a superorder of fish that includes species like perch and bass.
• I heard that Acanthopterygii are known for their spiny fins.
• Those Acanthopterygii fish are pretty cool with their sharp fins.
• Just like the Acanthopterygii fish, sometimes we need to be a little spiky to protect ourselves.

noun a type of fossilized crinoid marine animal with radiating arms

• The actinocrinus is a type of crinoid that lived during the Paleozoic era.
• Have you seen the actinocrinus fossil at the museum? It's pretty cool.
• That actinocrinus dude looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
• Her hair cascaded down her back like the arms of an actinocrinus.

noun a person who believes that most characteristics of organisms are adaptations

adjective relating to or characteristic of the belief that most characteristics of organisms are adaptations

• The adaptationist approach to studying evolution focuses on how traits have evolved to serve specific functions.
• John is a strong believer in the adaptationist theory when it comes to understanding animal behavior.
• Some people think the adaptationist idea is just a fancy way of saying survival of the fittest.
• In business, being adaptationist means being able to quickly adjust to changes in the market.

adjective relating to or exhibiting adelomorphism, which is the absence of certain body parts or structures

• The scientist described the adelomorphic characteristics of the newly discovered species.
• I heard that the biology professor is researching adelomorphic traits in insects.
• Check out the adelomorphic features on that cool new bug!
• Her adelomorphic beauty was unmatched, like a rare flower in a field of weeds.