Evidence of Evolution Flashcard

Front

What is the age range of Layer 3 if Layer 4 is 400 million years old and Layer 1 is 500 million years old?

Back

Layer 3 is between 400 million and 500 million years old.

Front

What are body parts that perform a similar function but differ in structure called?

Back

Analogous structures.

Front

What are body parts of organisms that are similar in structure and position but different in function called?

Back

Homologous structures.

Front

What has the study of fossils allowed scientists to do?

Back

Describe past environments and the history of life.

Front

Which comparison best reveals structural changes in fish species over time?

Back

Comparing a fish that lived recently and a similar fish that lived thousands of years ago.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in geology?

Back

In undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

A preserved remnant or impression of an organism that lived in the past.

Front

What is the significance of transitional fossils?

Back

They provide evidence of the evolutionary process by showing intermediate forms between different species.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures share a common ancestry but have different functions; analogous structures perform similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.