Evolution Vocab

1.  a change in the inherited characteristics of a group of organisms over generations.

• evolution

• adaptations

• morphology

• paleontology

1. characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival and reproduction in specific environments.

• adaptations

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

• variations

 differences in traits among organisms.

• adaptations

• variations

• gene flow

• speciation

 a mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring

• morphology

• biogeography

• natural selection

• speciation

1. Species tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support

• evolution

• variations

• non-random mating

• overproduction

study of embryos and their development

• paleontology

• morphology

• embryology

• biogeography

 study of fossils or extinct organisms

• emrbyology

• paleontology

• morphology

• biogeography

study of the distribution of organisms around the world

• embryology

• paleontology

• morphology

• biogeography

1. branch of biology that deals with the form of living organisms and with relationships between their structures; also called comparative anatomy

• embryology

• paleontology

• morphology

• biogeography

1.  structures that are similar in related organisms because they were inherited from a common ancestor 

• homologous structures

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures