Evidence for Evolution (HS-LS4-1)

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What is evolution?

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Evolution is 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 a common ancestor?

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A common ancestor is an ancestral species from which two or more different species have evolved.

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What evidence supports the theory of evolution?

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Evidence for evolution includes fossil records, comparative anatomy, genetic similarities, and observed evolutionary changes.

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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 are analogous structures?

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Analogous structures are body parts in different species that have similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

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What is natural selection?

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

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What role do mutations play in evolution?

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Mutations are changes in DNA that can lead to new traits, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful, and can contribute to evolution.

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What is genetic drift?

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Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population.

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How do fossils provide evidence for evolution?

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Fossils show the physical remains of organisms from the past, allowing scientists to trace the changes in species over time.

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What is the significance of DNA in evolutionary biology?

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DNA provides the genetic blueprint for organisms, and similarities in DNA sequences can indicate evolutionary relationships.