Evidence of Evolution

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Homologous structures are anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, indicating evolutionary relationships.

Front

What is common ancestry?

Back

Common ancestry refers to the concept that different species are descended from a single ancestor.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Front

What does the fossil record provide evidence for?

Back

The fossil record provides evidence for the kinds of organisms that lived in the past, how the environment has changed over time, and how organisms have evolved.

Front

What are vestigial structures?

Back

Vestigial structures are anatomical features that have lost their original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.

Front

What is embryology in the context of evolution?

Back

Embryology is the study of the development of embryos, which can show similarities between different species, indicating common ancestry.

Front

What are analogous structures?

Back

Analogous structures are features in different species that serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestry, such as wings of birds and insects.

Front

What is the significance of DNA in evolutionary biology?

Back

DNA analysis helps scientists determine genetic similarities and differences between species, providing insights into their evolutionary relationships.

Front

What is adaptive radiation?

Back

Adaptive radiation is the process by which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

Front

What is the role of mutations in evolution?

Back

Mutations are changes in DNA that can introduce new traits in a population, which may be beneficial, harmful, or neutral, driving evolutionary change.