bones and rocks
what are fossils
Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, typically found in sedimentary rocks
Natural selection
The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce, passing on favorable traits
Homologous structure
parts of organisms that are similar showing that they evolved from a common ancestor.
Darwin’s Finches
A group of finch species from the Galápagos Islands that exhibit variations in beak shape, demonstrating adaptive radiation
relative dating
The study of rock layers (strata) and their sequence to interpret Earth's history and the timing of geological events
what is Fossil record
The collection of all known fossils and their placement in rock formations, providing evidence of the history of life on Earth.
Artificial selection
The intentional breeding of organisms to promote desirable traits, often practiced by humans in agriculture and animal breeding.
Analogous structures
Features in different species that perform similar functions but do not share a common evolutionary origin, like wings in bats and insects
James Hutton
A geologist known for proposing the theory of uniformitarianism, suggesting that Earth's features were shaped by slow, continuous processes
Punctuated equilibrium
A model of evolution proposing that species experience long periods of stability interrupted by brief episodes of rapid change
what is Continental drift
The gradual movement of continents across the Earth's surface through geological time due to plate tectonics
Adaptation
A characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.
Vestigial structure
homologous structures that no longer have a function in one organism but may still function in a related organism
Charles Lyell
A geologist who expanded on Hutton's ideas with his work on uniformitarianism, influencing Darwin's understanding of Earth’s age and evolutionary processes
Gradualism
The theory that evolution proceeds slowly through the accumulation of small changes over long periods
what is Plate tectonics
A scientific theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere through interactions at tectonic plate boundaries
Fitness
An organism's ability to survive, reproduce, and pass on its genes to the next generation
Natural variation/diversity
Genetic differences among individuals within a species, providing material for natural selection.
Thomas Malthus
An economist who proposed that populations grow faster than their resources, leading to competition and survival challenges
Radiometric dating
A method for determining the age of an object based on the decay rate of radioactive isotopes.
Principle of common descent
The concept that all living organisms share a common ancestor
Acquired characteristics
Traits gained during an organism's life, which Lamarck incorrectly suggested could be inherited.
Hox genes
A group of regulatory genes that control the development of body plans in animals.
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
An early evolutionary theorist who proposed that organisms could pass on traits acquired during their lifetime to their offspring
Half-life
The time required for half of a radioactive isotope to decay