Evolution & Natural Selection

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What is speciation?

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The process by which new species arise from existing species, often due to factors like geographic isolation, behavioral isolation, or temporal isolation.

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What is geographic isolation?

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A form of isolation where a population is separated by physical barriers, leading to the development of new species.

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What is absolute dating in paleontology?

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A method used to determine the exact age of a fossil using techniques such as radioactive isotopes.

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What are homologous structures?

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Bodily structures among different species that originated from a common ancestor, indicating evolutionary relationships.

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What are analogous structures?

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Structures in different species that serve similar functions but evolved independently, indicating convergent evolution.

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What is the significance of fossils in understanding evolution?

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Fossils provide evidence of the evolutionary history of organisms and help scientists understand how species have changed over time.

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What is natural selection?

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

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What is the role of mutation in evolution?

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Mutations are changes in DNA that can lead to new traits, providing raw material for natural selection to act upon.

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What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating?

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Relative dating determines the age of fossils based on their position in layers of rock, while absolute dating provides a specific age using methods like radiometric dating.

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What is a vestigial structure?

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A structure that has lost most or all of its original function through the course of evolution, such as the human appendix.