evidence for evolution

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What is evidence for evolution?

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Evidence for evolution includes various types of data that support the theory of evolution, such as fossils, homologous structures, DNA similarities, and embryonic development.

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What are homologous structures?

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Homologous structures are body parts in different species that share a common ancestry, even if they have different functions.

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What is an example of homologous structures?

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The forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats are examples of homologous structures.

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What is homology?

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Homology refers to the similarity in structure due to shared ancestry, as opposed to analogy, which is similarity due to convergent evolution.

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What is analogy?

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Analogy refers to similarities in function or appearance that arise independently in different species, not due to shared ancestry.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Vestigial structures are body parts that have lost their original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.

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What role do hox genes play in development?

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Hox genes control the body plan and the development of structures in embryos, determining the identity of body segments.

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What is the significance of fossils in evolution?

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Fossils provide evidence of past life forms and show how species have changed over time, supporting the theory of evolution.

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is embryonic development evidence for evolution?

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Similarities in embryonic development among different species suggest a common ancestry, as seen in the early stages of vertebrate embryos.