Evidence for Evolution
The gradual change of species over time.
What is evolution?
Structures with similar form but different function.
What are homologous structures?
Individuals in a population differ in traits.
What is variation?
Observable characteristics of an organism.
What are phenotypic traits?
The process where favorable traits become more common.
What is natural selection?
This type of evidence organizes fossils from simple to complex across rock layers.
What is the fossil record?
Structures with different form but same function.
What are analogous structures?
Organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive.
What is survival?
Special features that help an organism survive.
What are adaptations?
How do adaptations improve survival?
What is they help organisms obtain resources, avoid predators, or reproduce?
Why are older fossils typically simpler than newer ones?
What is organisms have evolved over time into more complex forms?
What do homologous structures suggest about species?
What is they share a common ancestor?
Why do species produce more offspring than can survive?
What is to increase chances that some survive and reproduce?
Variation in genes within a population.
What is genetic diversity?
What would likely happen to a species with low genetic diversity?
What is it may struggle to survive environmental changes?
This type of evidence compares body structures across species.
What is comparative anatomy?
Why do analogous structures NOT indicate common ancestry?
What is they evolved independently due to similar environmental pressures?
What happens to favorable traits over generations?
What is they become more common in the population?
What introduces new genetic variations into a population?
What are mutations?
If an environment suddenly changes, what determines which organisms survive?
What is whether they have favorable traits for the new environment?
Explain how embryological evidence supports evolution.
What is embryos of different species show similar early structures, indicating a common ancestor?
Name and explain one vestigial structure in humans.
What is the appendix/tailbone/wisdom teeth and they no longer serve their original function?
Why does natural selection take many generations to show major changes?
What is traits must be passed down repeatedly over time to affect the population?
Explain how camouflage is an adaptation using natural selection.
What is organisms with camouflage survive better, reproduce more, and pass on that trait?
Explain how natural selection can eventually lead to a new species.
What is accumulated changes over time create populations so different they become new species?