Glossary of terms used on this site

visual display used to distract predators away from a nesting site

process by which groups of organisms evolve in diverse directions from a common point

selection that favors two or more distinct phenotypes

molecular genetic method for identifying a unique genetic sequence to associate with a species

molecular genetic method for identifying a unique genetic sequence to associate with a species

epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing; a process involving adding a methyl group to the DNA molecule

method to detect gene expression by analyzing many DNA fragments that are fixed to a glass slide or a silicon chip to identify active genes and identify sequences

trait which confers the same physical appearance whether an individual has two copies of the trait or one copy of the dominant trait and one copy of the recessive trait

inheritance pattern in which an allele is lethal both in the homozygote and the heterozygote; this allele can only be transmitted if the lethality phenotype occurs after reproductive age

period of no growth and very slow metabolic processes

body cavity on the posterior or back portion of an animal; includes the cranial and vertebral cavities

hollow, tubular structure derived from ectoderm, which is located dorsal to the notochord in chordates

bending at the ankle such that the toes are lifted toward the knee

flow of blood in two circuits: the pulmonary circuit through the lungs and the systemic circuit through the organs and body

two fertilization events in angiosperms; one sperm fuses with the egg, forming the zygote, whereas the other sperm fuses with the polar nuclei, forming endosperm