Evidence for Evolution

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What are vestigial structures?

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Vestigial structures are body parts that have lost their original function through evolution. An example is the hind leg bones in whales.

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What is embryology?

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Embryology is the study of embryos of various organisms, which shows similarities in development, indicating a common ancestor.

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What are homologous structures?

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Homologous structures are anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry but may serve different functions, such as the forelimbs of mammals.

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What is the fossil record?

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The fossil record is the collection of all known fossils, which provides evidence of the history of life on Earth and shows how species have changed over time.

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What are analogous structures?

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Analogous structures are body parts in different species that have similar functions but do not share a common ancestry, such as the wings of birds and insects.

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What is adaptive radiation?

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Adaptive radiation is the process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

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What is the significance of the fossil record in evolution?

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The fossil record provides evidence of past life forms, their evolution, and the changes in species over time.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

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Homologous structures share a common ancestry but may have different functions, while analogous structures have similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

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What is the role of mutations in evolution?

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Mutations are changes in DNA that can lead to new traits in organisms, providing raw material for natural selection.