Evolution

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What is evolution?

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The process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

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What is natural selection?

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

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Define adaptation in the context of evolution.

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An inherited trait that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

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What are homologous structures?

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Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, even if they have different functions.

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What are analogous structures?

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Body parts in different species that have similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

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What is embryology?

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The study of embryos and their development, which can show similarities among different species.

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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 speciation?

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The process by which new species arise from existing species.

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What is a common ancestor?

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A species from which two or more different species have evolved.

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What is genetic drift?

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A mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population.