Convergent and Divergent Evolution.

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What is Convergent Evolution?

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A process where unrelated species evolve similar characteristics due to living in similar environments.

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What is Divergent Evolution?

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A process where different species evolve from a common ancestor, leading to differences as they adapt to new environments.

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What is Speciation?

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The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

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What is Punctuated Equilibrium?

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A theory in evolutionary biology that proposes that species evolution is marked by isolated episodes of rapid speciation between long periods of little or no change.

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What are Antifreeze Proteins?

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Proteins that help organisms survive in extremely cold environments by preventing their bodily fluids from freezing.

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Give an example of Convergent Evolution.

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Whales, sharks, and penguins all have streamlined bodies and fins/flippers for moving in water despite belonging to different classes of animals.

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What is the Fossil Record?

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A historical sequence of life on Earth as documented by fossils, showing how different groups of organisms have changed over time.

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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 is Coevolution?

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The process where two or more species influence each other's evolutionary path.

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What is an example of Divergent Evolution?

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Darwin's finches, which evolved different beak shapes to adapt to various food sources on the Galápagos Islands.