Evidence of Evolution

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What are homologous structures?

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Structures in different species that are similar due to shared ancestry, even if they have different functions.

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What are analogous structures?

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

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What are vestigial structures?

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Features that were once useful in an organism's ancestors but have lost their original function in the modern organism.

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What is an example of a vestigial structure in humans?

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The appendix, wisdom teeth, and tailbone are examples of vestigial structures.

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What do fossils provide evidence of?

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Fossils show changes in organisms over time, their environments, and the time periods they lived in.

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How do homologous structures support the theory of evolution?

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They indicate that different species have evolved from a common ancestor.

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What is the significance of embryological structures in evolution?

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Embryological structures show similarities in the early development of different species, suggesting common ancestry.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

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Homologous structures arise from a common ancestor, while analogous structures arise independently in different species.

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What is an example of an analogous structure?

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The wings of bats and the wings of insects serve similar functions but evolved independently.

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Why are vestigial structures important in studying evolution?

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They provide evidence of an organism's evolutionary past and how it has adapted over time.