Common Ancestry

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What is common ancestry?

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Common ancestry refers to the idea that different species share a common ancestor from which they have evolved over time.

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What is evolution?

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Evolution is the process through which species change over time through mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation.

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What is a vestigial structure?

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A vestigial structure is a body part that has lost its original function through the course of evolution, such as the human tailbone.

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How do fossils support the theory of evolution?

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Fossils provide evidence that organisms have changed over time, showing a progression of species and their adaptations.

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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 is the significance of DNA similarity in species?

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DNA similarity indicates how closely related different species are, suggesting a common ancestry.

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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, even if they have different functions.

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What are analogous structures?

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Analogous structures are body parts in different species that serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

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What is the fossil record?

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The fossil record is the collection of all known fossils and their placement in the geological time scale, providing evidence of past life.

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What is embryonic development in relation to common ancestry?

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Embryonic development shows similarities in early stages among different species, indicating a shared evolutionary history.