Evidence for Evolution

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What is carbonization in fossilization?

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A type of fossilization that leaves behind a thin dark film or outline of carbon in a rock.

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What are original material fossils?

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Fossils that contain tissues that haven’t been replaced with minerals or broken down by decomposition.

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What are homologous structures?

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Structures that may not perform the same function but consist of similar kinds of structures.

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What are analogous structures?

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Structures that perform similar functions but do not have a common evolutionary origin.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Remnants of body parts that served a purpose in an organism's evolutionary ancestors but are now reduced in size and function.

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What is mineralization in fossilization?

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The process where organic material is replaced with minerals, forming a fossil.

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What are trace fossils?

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Fossils that provide evidence of the activity of organisms, such as footprints or burrows.

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What is a transitional fossil?

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Fossils that show intermediate states between an ancestral form and that of its descendants.

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What is the significance of homologous structures in evolution?

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They provide evidence for common ancestry among different species.

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How do analogous structures provide evidence for evolution?

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They show how different species can evolve similar traits independently due to similar environmental pressures.