Evidence for Evolution

Front

What are vestigial structures?

Back

Remnants of once-important structures that have slowly lost all or most of their function.

Front

What is the fossil record?

Back

The collection of life's remains found in sedimentary rock.

Front

What is an example of analogous structures?

Back

Structures that perform a similar function but are not similar in origin.

Front

Which areas provide the best evidence for common ancestry?

Back

Similarities in organisms found in areas 1 and 2.

Front

What best describes the hind leg bones seen in whales?

Back

The bones are vestigial structures that had a function in an ancestor.

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Features found in different organisms that share structural similarities but may have very different functions.

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 an example of a homologous structure?

Back

The forelimbs of mammals, such as humans, whales, and bats, which have different functions but similar bone structures.

Front

What is the significance of the fossil record in evolution?

Back

It provides evidence of the history of life and shows how species have changed over time.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures share a common ancestry, while analogous structures perform similar functions but do not share a common origin.