Amplify Evolutionary History Chapter 1 Flashcard

Front

What is a body structure?

Back

A part of an organism, such as one or more bones.

Front

What is a mutation?

Back

A random change to a gene that sometimes results in a new trait.

Front

What is a limb?

Back

An organism’s arm, leg, or wing.

Front

Can the Mystery Fossil have shared body structures with whales and wolves?

Back

True

Front

Do more careful and precise observations provide stronger evidence?

Back

True

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 a paleontologist?

Back

A scientist who studies fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.

Front

What is the significance of shared structures in evolutionary biology?

Back

They indicate common ancestry among different species.

Front

What is the role of fossils in understanding evolutionary history?

Back

Fossils provide evidence of past life forms and their changes over time.

Front

What does it mean for a trait to be advantageous?

Back

It increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.