Evidence of Evolution and Cladograms

Front

What is a vestigial structure?

Back

A vestigial structure is a body part that has lost its original function through evolution. An example is the tailbone in humans.

Front

What do the arm bones of humans and bats indicate?

Back

They indicate that humans and bats shared a common ancestor that had a similar arm structure.

Front

What can embryonic similarities between two organisms suggest?

Back

They suggest that the organisms share a common ancestry.

Front

Define evolution.

Back

Evolution is the change in inherited characteristics of an organism over time.

Front

What type of evidence is embryological evidence?

Back

Embryological evidence refers to similarities in the embryonic development of different organisms, indicating common ancestry.

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species based on shared characteristics.

Front

What is the significance of homologous structures?

Back

Homologous structures are body parts in different species that have similar structures but different functions, indicating a common ancestor.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures arise from a common ancestor, while analogous structures serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

Front

What role do fossils play in understanding evolution?

Back

Fossils provide evidence of past life forms and their changes over time, helping to trace the evolutionary history of species.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.