Evolution

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What are homologous structures?

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Structures in different species that share a common ancestry, showing similar anatomical features despite different functions.

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What is evolution?

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

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What is natural selection?

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The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Anatomical features that have lost most or all of their original function through the course of evolution.

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What is adaptive radiation?

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The process by which a single ancestral species rapidly diversifies into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

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What is a mutation?

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A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits; mutations can be helpful, harmful, or neutral.

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What is the significance of fossil evidence in evolution?

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Fossils provide a historical record of past life forms and show how species have changed over time.

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What is selective breeding?

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The process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic traits.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

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

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What role does genetic variation play in evolution?

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Genetic variation is essential for natural selection, as it provides the raw material for evolution.