Term
| Why is paleontology called a 'four-dimensional' science? |
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Definition
| Paleontology is called a 4 dimensional science because it adds a time dimension to the three dimensions of space we live in. That is, paleontology adds time to studies of biology. |
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Term
| What did the word 'fossil' originally mean? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the difference between a body fossil and a trace fossil? |
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Definition
a body fossil is the preserve of some portion of the once living organism-most complete body fossil
a trace fossil is a preserve of trace left behind by the organism and doesn't include part of the organism itself- shows what organism could do and more dynamic than body fossil |
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Term
| What is a fact? A hypothesis? A theory? |
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Definition
Fact: objective and verifiable observation made about the natural world
Hypothesis: general explanation of facts; makes predictions that can be tested
Theory: hypothesis that has withstood repeated testing |
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Term
| What is the tree of life? What is at the tips of the twigs and what is at the branchpoints? |
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Definition
| The tree of life is used to discuss the four dimensions/deeper history. The tips of twigs are existing species and the trunk is the common ancestor of all life. The branchpoints represent ancestors of particular regions of the tree. For example, if you gather many twig tips representing mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, and turtles, the branch point that unites them is the ancestor of all those animals together. Make sense? |
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Term
| How does Natural Selection Work? |
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Definition
reproduction->variation-> excess->selection-> divergence (separation and time result in ADAPTION and SPECIFICATION)
*types of competition either biotic(intraspecific competition, prediation) or abiotic (environmental factors) |
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Term
| Are few/some/many animals that one existed now extinct? |
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Definition
Most species are extinct (>98% of organisms have gone extinct)
*to prove something is extinct you must prove that the fossil is distinct from living forms or that the fossil is no longer in existence* |
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Term
| What is the difference between relative and absolute dating? |
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Definition
relative: places fossils on a time scale via ordering strata (super position, original horizontality, lateral continuity, faunal succession, cross-cutting relationships)
absolute: determine the specific date; linear change (constant overtime) and geometric change (rate decreases overtime) |
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Term
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Definition
| sedimentary layers are deposited with oldest on bottom and youngest on top |
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Term
| How do cross-cutting relationships help us to order events? |
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Definition
| The geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features (can get a relative sequence of events) |
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Term
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Definition
| 4.5-4.6 billion years old and this is determined by radiometric dating of 1)rocks from the earth 2)extraterrestrial rocks 3)oldest moon rocks |
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Term
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Definition
| Describes the large scale motions of Earth's Lithosphere- which is broken up into 1-8 major and many minor tectonic plates which are able to move because the lithosphere has higher strength and lower density than underlying aesthenosphere |
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Term
| What is DNA and where is it stored in your body? |
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Definition
| DNA is stored on chromosomes (each body cell contains 2 copies of 23 chromosomes(diploid) and sex cells contain 1 copy of your 23 chromosomes (haploid)) |
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Term
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Definition
| Sex cells contain 1 copy of your 23 chromosomes |
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Term
| What happens during fertilization? Cleavage? Gastrulation? |
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Definition
fertilization: fusion of gametes (sex cells)
cleavage: rapid cell division (prophase->metaphase->early anaphase->late anaphase produces blastula
gastrulation: making layers |
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Term
| What do homeobox (Hox) genes control? |
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Definition
'Master Control Genes' or genes whose protein products control the expression of other genes
DETERMINE CELL FATE |
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Term
| How did the configuration of continents change during the dinosaur era? |
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Definition
| originally one supercontinent which then split apart; mid-jurassic there was a northern and southern landmass |
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Term
| What is Pangea? Gondwana? Laurasia? |
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Definition
Pangea: supercontinent that existed during the paleozoic and mesozoic eras
Laurasia: northern land mass during the mid-jurassic
Gondwana: southern land mass during mid-jurassic |
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Term
| Which of the major groups of living tetrapods (limbed, backboned animals) were around during the Mesozoic? |
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Definition
| Mammals were present during this era but weren't predominant (mostly teeth and jaws. Mesozoic snakes had legs |
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Term
| When was the term "dinosaur" coined? |
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Definition
| 1842 Sir Richard Owen coined the word Dinosaurs |
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Term
| What was the original intent of the name? |
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Definition
| "fearfully great reptile" |
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Term
| What are the two major groups of dinosaurs? Which group do birds fit into? |
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Definition
| Ornithischia and Saurischia. Birds fit into Theropoda |
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Term
| What is the 'Dinosaur Renaissance'? |
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Definition
1969-Present
The idea that birds are dinosaurs->deinonychus -> proof looked at physiology, biomechanics/functional morphology and development |
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Term
| What was the Cope-Marsh feud and why was it important? |
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Definition
| Rivalry between two paleontologists during the "Dinosaur Rush." Cope described the first dinosaur, Laelaps, and Marsh criticized his findings. This time of back and forth continued until they both died. The two's best legacy wereThe techniques of prospecting, recording, excavating, and shipping large fossils are perhaps the two scientists' greatest legacy. |
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Term
| When was the dinosaur-bird connection first hypothesized? |
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Definition
| During the Heroic Periodic (1868) by Huxley |
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Term
| What did the discovery of many Iguanodon skeletons in a Belgian coal mine tell us? |
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Definition
| It was the first population of dinosaurs found - it gave us a sense for the natural variation within populations. |
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Term
| When did the first dinosaurs appear? |
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Definition
| 228 million years ago (mid-Triassic period) and they were small and rare |
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Term
| Where are the best sedimentary rocks for finding early dinosaurs? |
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Definition
| Los Rastros Fm, Argentina |
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Term
| What characteristics did the ancestral dinosaur have? |
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Definition
| small, bipedal and carnivorous |
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Term
| What are two competing hypotheses explaining dinosaurs' rise to prominence? Which has more evidence supporting it? |
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Definition
Competitive Replacement:Dinosaurs outcompeting the other species
Opportunistic:An event occurred that caused an extinction of the previous animals which then allowed dinosaurs to thrive (THIS IS SUPPORTED because the Mesozoic era is defined by two extinctions) |
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Term
| What is the role of mass extinction in the origin of dinosaurs? |
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Definition
| It allowed dinosaurs to become predominant |
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