Grandpa Darwin & The Glow-Up of Life
This is the scientific idea that says living things slowly change over time. Basically, nature’s longest glow-up in history.
What is evolution?
These are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that scientists dig up like biological treasure.
What are fossils?
This branch of science organizes living things into groups, kind of like sorting your clothes… except scientists argue about it more.
What is taxonomy?
All living things belong to one of these three domains of life.
What are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya?
Natural selection is often summed up by this famous phrase meaning the organisms best suited for their environment survive.
What is “survival of the fittest”?
When two animals have similar bone structures because they share an ancestor, scientists call these ______ structures.
What are homologous structures?
Every organism has a two-word scientific name. It’s basically their official government name in science class.
What are genus and species?
Your appendix and tailbone don’t do much today, but they once helped your ancestors. Scientists call these what?
What are vestigial structures?
According to evolution, organisms change over time because they develop helpful traits that make survival easier… kind of like upgrading your character in a video game.
What are adaptations?
These structures do the same job but evolved differently, like bird wings and insect wings. Same function, totally different design team.
What are analogous structures?
This group includes organisms that can reproduce together and produce fertile offspring.
What is a species?
When animals share similar bone structures because they evolved from the same ancestor, those structures are called this.
What are homologous structures?
These small differences between individuals (of the same species) are why some organisms survive disasters while others… do not make the sequel.
What are variations?
When a species disappears forever and never respawns like a video game character, this has happened.
What is extinction?
This classification group comes right before species and is the first word in an organism’s scientific name.
What is genus?
Bird wings and insect wings both help with flying, but they evolved separately. That makes them this type of structure.
What are analogous structures?
Natural selection works because organisms with helpful traits are more likely to do this and pass those traits to their offspring.
What is reproduce?
These are body parts that used to be useful millions of years ago but now mostly just exist… like the “mystery drawer” in your kitchen.
What are vestigial structures?
Put these classification groups in order from least specific to most specific: Kingdom, Species, Domain, Genus, Class, Order, Phylum, Family.
Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
Homologous structures are strong evidence that organisms share this evolutionary connection.
What is a common ancestor?