Evidence of Evolution

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What is Embryology?

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The study of the early stages of development in organisms, which provides evidence of evolution.

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What is a vestigial structure?

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A body part that has lost its original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.

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What is common ancestry?

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The concept that different species are descended from a single ancestor.

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What is Homology?

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The similarity in structure between different species due to shared ancestry, such as the forelimbs of humans and whales.

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What is Analogy?

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The similarity in function between different species that do not share a common ancestor, such as the wings of birds and insects.

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What is a homologous structure?

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

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What is a vestigial organ?

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An organ that has diminished in size and function over time, like the human tailbone.

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What evidence supports the theory of evolution?

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Fossils, comparative anatomy, embryology, and molecular biology.

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What is the significance of the fossil record?

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It provides chronological evidence of the evolution of species over time.

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What are analogous structures?

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Structures that serve similar functions but evolved independently in different species.