Darwin’s Observations
Darwin observed this pattern of species being unique but related on the Galápagos Islands.
What is endemic species?
This is the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce.
What is fitness?
The fossil record provides evidence of this pattern of life over time.
What is change in species over time?
Bat wings and whale flippers are examples of these.
What are homologous structures?
The phrase describing evolution as change in populations over generations.
What is descent with modification?
Darwin was influenced by this geologist who proposed that Earth is shaped by slow, continuous processes.
Who is Charles Lyell?
Individuals with advantageous traits tend to leave more of these behind.
What are offspring?
Structures with similar embryonic origin but different functions.
What are homologous structures?
Bird wings and insect wings are examples of these.
What are analogous structures?
The shared ancestor of multiple lineages.
What is a common ancestor?
This economist influenced Darwin by writing about population growth and competition.
Who is Thomas Malthus?
Natural selection can only act on traits that are this.
What is heritable?
These structures no longer serve their original function.
What are vestigial structures?
This term describes similarity due to common ancestry.
What is homology?
The gradual accumulation of adaptations.
What is natural selection?
This voyage provided Darwin the opportunity to collect evidence for evolution.
What is the voyage of the HMS Beagle?
This explains why populations change over generations rather than individuals.
What is differential reproductive success?
Similarities in early development support evolution through this concept.
What is common ancestry?
This type of evolution produces analogous structures.
What is convergent evolution?
The geographic distribution of species.
What is biogeography?
Darwin’s theory emphasized that natural selection requires this heritable variation.
What is genetic variation?
This process results in adaptations over time.
What is natural selection?
DNA sequence similarity provides evidence for this evolutionary relationship.
What is relatedness?
Homologous structures may differ in this due to environmental pressures.
What is function?
The scientific explanation for unity and diversity of life.
What is evolution by natural selection?