SB6c - Evidence for Evolution

Front

What are vestigial structures?

Back

Structures with no function that are remnants of an organism’s evolutionary past.

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Structures that share a common ancestry or are similar because they are modified versions of structures from a common ancestor.

Front

Which organism shares the fewest amino acid differences with humans?

Back

Chimpanzees.

Front

What does the development of vertebrate embryos reveal?

Back

The evolutionary history of organisms is seen in the way embryos develop.

Front

What do vestigial pelvic bones in whales indicate?

Back

Whales descended from four-legged animals.

Front

What is the significance of homologous structures in evolution?

Back

They provide evidence of common ancestry among different species.

Front

Define evolution in biological terms.

Back

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Front

What is a common misconception about vestigial structures?

Back

That they are useless; they may have had functions in ancestral species.

Front

How do fossils provide evidence for evolution?

Back

Fossils show the physical changes in species over time and their relationships to modern species.

Front

What is the role of embryology in understanding evolution?

Back

Embryology shows similarities in early development stages among different species, indicating common ancestry.