Glossary

trait

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Genetically determined characteristic or condition; distinguishing feature.

Used in 52 species profiles

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Related terms

convergent evolution
Independant acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated, monophyletic, lineages as a result of inhabiting similar environments or ecological niches.
derived trait
In phylogenetics, a trait present in an organism which was absent in the last common ancestor of the group being considered; an apomorphy. Also used to refer to traits present in the ancestral form that have subsequently been lost.
fitness
In biology, Darwinian fitness or simply fitness of a biological trait describes how successful an organism has been at passing on its genes. The more likely that an individual is able to survive and live longer to reproduce, the higher is the fitness of that individual.
gene
Basic hereditary unit comprising a sequence of nuceleotides within a strand of DNA or RNA and occupying a fixed position on a chromosome. Generally determines a particular character or trait present in an organism by directing production and activity of RNA.
genus
Taxonomic group into which a family is divided and which contains one or more species characterised by a shared trait or traits. The generic name is used, either alone or followed by one or two specific epithets, to form a binomen or trinomen.
heredity
The passing of characteristics or traits from parent or ancestor to offspring or later generations; the sum of such inherited features or their characteristics.
homoplasy
A character or trait shared by two or more unrelated taxa. Typically the result of convergent or parallel evolution.
inbreeding
Breeding between related individuals within an isolated or otherwise closed group of organisms. Can lead to inbreeding depression but also practised intentionally by ornamental fish breeders in order to maintain or develop particular traits.
line breeding
Selective inbreeding in order to maintain or favour desired traits in organisms. Common in the ornamental fish hobby and industry.
meristic character
A countable trait, e.g., the number of rays in a fin, gill rakers, lateral line scales, etc..
microsatellite
Section of DNA comprising very short nucleotide sequences repeated many times. Highly polymorphic and used as a marker to determine genetic diversity, identify important genetic traits, analyse relationships, etc..
natural selection
Term introduced by Charles Darwin referring to the nonrandom mechanism of evolution by which certain biological traits become either more or less common in a population due to differential, environmentally-influenced reproduction. Better-adapted individuals tend to produce more offspring, thus the population evolves, and this process can result in populations that gradually become specialised to inhabit particular ecological niches and can eventually result in the emergence of new species.
parallel evolution
Development of similar forms or traits in related, but separate, species descending from the same ancestor, but occupying different clades.
phenotype
The observable physical and biochemical traits of an organism, such as its behaviour, external morphology, colour pattern, phenology, etc. Influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
plesiomorphy
In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups but derived from a remote or much earlier common ancestral form and therefore cannot be used to define a clade. Also known as an ancestral state and generally appears at the base level of a cladogram.
selective breeding
Intentional, normally controlled breeding of organisms favouring desirable or improved traits. Common in the ornamental fish hobby and industry.
symplesiomorphy
In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups and derived from a remote or much earlier common ancestral form.
synapomorphy
In cladistics, a character or trait shared by two or more taxonomic groups and derived from a common ancestral form, whose ancestor in turn did not possess that trait.

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