FLASHCARDIZZ - Fossils and Anatomical Similarities

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What are fossils?

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The remains or traces of an organism that lived long ago.

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What is the theory of evolution?

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The scientific theory that explains how species change over time.

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What does extinction mean?

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The permanent loss of a species.

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What is comparative anatomy?

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The study of structural differences and similarities in living things.

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What is comparative embryology?

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The study of similarities and differences in embryologic development among species.

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What are homologous structures?

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Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry.

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What is natural selection?

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The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is speciation?

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The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

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What is extirpation?

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The local extinction of a species from a specific habitat.

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What is a mold fossil?

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A fossil formed when an organism leaves an impression in sediment.