Unit 7, Topic 2 Vocabulary: Common Ancestry

DNA

• material that carries information about how an organism will look and function

• a type of protein that helps in muscle contraction

• a carbohydrate that provides energy to cells

• a lipid that stores energy in the body

ancestor

• organism in the past from which today's organisms developed

• a type of modern organism

• a genetic mutation

• a species that is currently extinct

homologous structure

• a structure that evolved from a common ancestor

• a structure that serves the same function but has a different evolutionary origin

• a structure that is similar in form and function due to convergent evolution

• a structure that is vestigial and no longer serves a purpose

species

• type of organism

• a group of cells

• a type of habitat

• a form of energy

fossil

• remains of a plant or animal preserved in Earth’s crust

• a type of rock formed from volcanic activity

• a living organism found in the ocean

• a mineral that forms in caves

cladogram

• a branching diagram showing the relationship between different species

• a type of fossil used to date geological layers

• a method for classifying organisms based on their physical traits

• a chart that displays the food chain in an ecosystem

speciation

• the formation of new species

• the extinction of species

• the migration of species

• the adaptation of species

theory of evolution

• states that species have their origin in common ancestors and that differences result from continuous change within a species

• is the idea that species are created independently and do not change over time

• suggests that all species are static and do not adapt to their environment

• proposes that species evolve only through random mutations without any common ancestry

adaptation

• an inherited trait that helps an organism survive in its environment

• a temporary change in behavior due to environmental factors

• a learned skill that improves an organism's chances of survival

• a physical feature that has no impact on survival

fetus

• the stage of offspring development that follows an embryo

• the initial stage of human development

• a term used for a newborn baby

• a type of genetic mutation