A summary of major events in the evolution of life, including key species and adaptations.
Fossilization: The process of preserving and creating fossils.
Geological Time Scale: The timeline of the Earth's history.
Major events in earth's history: Such as mass extinction events.
Phylogenetics: The study of the evolutionary relationships between organisms.
Systematics: The classification of organisms based on evolutionary relationships.
Evolutionary theory: The principles behind natural selection and evolution.
Biogeography: The study of the distribution of living organisms across the globe.
Molecular biology: The study of molecules and their interactions within living systems.
Anatomy and morphology: The structures and forms of living organisms, including fossils.
Fossil Record: The study of fossils, which are the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past. This includes the analysis of their morphology, anatomy, and distribution.
Molecular Evolution: The study of the changes in genetic material across generations, which includes mutations, genetic drift, and natural selection.
Phylogenetics: The study of evolutionary relationships between species, groups of species, and higher-level taxa, using molecular and morphological data.
Biogeography: The study of the distribution of organisms geographically, and the mechanisms that determine their distribution.
Macroevolution: The study of broad patterns and processes of evolution, including the origin of major groups of organisms, and the evolution of complex features.
Adaptive Radiation: The process by which groups of organisms diversify rapidly into many different forms, adapting to different ecological niches.
Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in different lineages, driven by similar selection pressures or environmental conditions.
Co-evolution: The reciprocal evolution of two or more species, in response to each other's evolutionary changes.
Extinction: The process by which a species or a group of species ceases to exist, and the causes and consequences of extinction.
Biomineralization: The process by which organisms create minerals that are used for structure, protection, or other functions. This includes the formation of shells, bones, teeth, and other hard parts.
Taphonomy: The study of the processes by which fossils are formed and preserved, and the factors that affect their preservation and visibility.