Evolutionary Biology Concepts

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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 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 are homologous structures?

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Homologous structures are physical features in different species that are similar due to shared ancestry, indicating evolutionary relationships.

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What is a common ancestor?

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

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What is embryonic development?

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Embryonic development refers to the process by which an embryo forms and develops, showing similarities among different species that suggest evolutionary relationships.

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What is genetic similarity?

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Genetic similarity refers to the degree of genetic overlap between different species, indicating how closely related they are.

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What is adaptation?

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Adaptation is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

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What is a vestigial organ?

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A vestigial organ is a body part that has lost its original function through the course of evolution.

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What is convergent evolution?

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Convergent evolution is the process where organisms from different evolutionary backgrounds develop similar traits or adaptations.

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What is the significance of fossil records?

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Fossil records provide evidence of past life forms and show the changes in species over time, supporting the theory of evolution.