Common Ancestry

Front

What is evolution?

Back

The changes of species over time.

Front

What does it mean for species to be closely related?

Back

It indicates that they share a more recent common ancestor.

Front

What evidence do similarities in bone structures provide?

Back

They suggest that the organisms may have developed from a common ancestor.

Front

What is a vestigial structure?

Back

A structure that has lost most or all of its original function in a species, such as the tailbone in humans.

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Structures that are similar in different species due to shared ancestry.

Front

What are analogous structures?

Back

Structures that serve similar functions in different species but do not share a common ancestry.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

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

Front

What is mimicry in biology?

Back

A phenomenon where one species evolves to resemble another species for protection or other advantages.

Front

What is a common ancestor?

Back

An ancestral species from which two or more species have evolved.

Front

What is the significance of DNA in common ancestry?

Back

DNA similarities can indicate how closely related different species are.