Identifying Related Species

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Evolution Noun

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[ev-uh-loo-shun]

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Evolution

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The process by which populations of organisms change over many generations, leading to the development of new species.

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Example: Different finch beaks evolved to suit their food sources, showing evolution in action.

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Species Noun

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[spee-sheez]

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Species

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A group of similar organisms that can successfully reproduce with one another to create fertile offspring.

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Example: The image shows two types of crows and their hybrids, explaining how species can reproduce to create offspring.

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Population Noun

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[pop-yuh-ley-shun]

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Population

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A group of individuals of the same species that live and interact in the same geographic area.

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Example: A group of ladybugs shows a population of the same species living together.

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Speciation Noun

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[spee-see-ey-shun]

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Speciation

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The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct, new biological species that can no longer interbreed.

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Example: Different beak shapes of Darwin's finches show how species evolve to adapt to environments.

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Common Ancestor Noun

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[kom-uhn an-ses-ter]

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Common Ancestor

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A past species from which two or more different species have evolved or descended over time.

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Example: This diagram shows how humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor, illustrating evolutionary relationships.

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Descendant Species Noun

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[dih-sen-dant spee-sheez]

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Descendant Species

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A species that has evolved from a specific ancestor or ancestral group from a previous time period.

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Example: Different bird beaks show how species evolved from a common ancestor to adapt to various food sources.

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Relatedness Noun

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[ri-ley-tid-nes]

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Relatedness

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The measure of how recently two species separated from a shared common ancestor in their evolutionary history.

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Example: The image shows how species are grouped in a hierarchy, indicating their relatedness through common ancestors.

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Body Structure Noun

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[bod-ee struhk-cher]

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Body Structure

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The specific arrangement of anatomical parts, such as bones and organs, that make up an organism's body.

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Example: The image shows a bacterium's body structure with labeled parts like cell wall and DNA.

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Shared Structure Noun

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[shaird struhk-cher]

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Shared Structure

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An anatomical feature found in two or more species that is inherited from a common ancestor.

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Example: Vertebrate limbs share similar bone structures like the humerus and radius, showing common ancestry.

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Diagnostic Structure Noun

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[dahy-uhg-nos-tik struhk-cher]

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Diagnostic Structure

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A specific shared structure that is unique to a particular group, helping to determine evolutionary relationships.

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Example: The image explains the digestive system of ruminants, showing different stomach compartments.