Evolutionary Relationships Flashcard

Front

What is an evolutionary tree diagram?

Back

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between different species, illustrating how they are related through common ancestry.

Front

What is the purpose of an evolutionary tree?

Back

To show the evolutionary relationships between species, illustrate common ancestry, and display the order of evolutionary events.

Front

What does it mean if two species share a common ancestor?

Back

It means that both species have evolved from a shared species in the past.

Front

What are homologous structures?

Back

Structures in different species that are similar due to shared ancestry, even if they have different functions.

Front

What are analogous structures?

Back

Structures in different species that serve similar functions but evolved independently, not from a common ancestor.

Front

What is the significance of the fossil record?

Back

The fossil record provides evidence of how species have changed over time and can show the sequence of evolutionary events.

Front

What can similar beak shapes in birds suggest about their evolutionary relationship?

Back

It suggests that they have evolved similar adaptations due to similar environmental pressures.

Front

What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

Back

Homologous structures arise from a common ancestor, while analogous structures arise independently in different species.

Front

What does the term 'vestigial structures' refer to?

Back

Structures that have lost most or all of their original function through the course of evolution.

Front

How can the location of fossils provide evidence of evolutionary change?

Back

The location can indicate the environment in which the species lived and how it adapted to changes over time.