Common Ancestry

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What is common ancestry?

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The concept that different species share a common ancestor, indicating that they have evolved from a shared lineage.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Structures that have lost most or all of their original function through the course of evolution, such as the pelvic bones in whales.

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What is an example of a vestigial structure?

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The wings of flightless birds, which are remnants of their flying ancestors.

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What are homologous structures?

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Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, such as the forelimbs of humans and bats.

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What are analogous structures?

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Features in different species that serve similar functions but do not share a common ancestry, like the wings of insects and birds.

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What is biogeography?

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The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

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What is anatomical homology?

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The study of similarities in the anatomy of different species to understand evolutionary relationships.

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What is molecular homology?

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The comparison of DNA and protein sequences between different species to find evolutionary connections.

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What is the fossil record?

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The history of life as documented by fossils, providing evidence of past organisms and their evolution.

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What is the significance of embryological structures in common ancestry?

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Similarities in the embryonic development of different species can indicate a common ancestor.