3.0 Evidence for Evolution

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What is the theory of common ancestry?

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The theory of common ancestry posits that all living organisms share a common ancestor, and that species evolve over time through processes such as natural selection and genetic drift.

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What is empirical evidence in the context of evolution?

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Empirical evidence refers to information acquired by observation or experimentation that supports scientific theories, such as the evidence of similar bone structures in different species.

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What are transitional fossils?

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Transitional fossils are remains of organisms that exhibit traits common to both an ancestral group and its derived descendant group, providing evidence of evolutionary change.

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How does biogeography contribute to our understanding of evolution?

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Biogeography studies the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time, showing how historical and environmental factors influence species distribution.

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What is the significance of genetic similarities in evolutionary biology?

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Genetic similarities indicate that closely related species share a more recent common ancestor, as they have more similar DNA sequences.

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How does molecular biology support the theory of evolution?

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Molecular biology supports evolution by showing that closely related species have similar DNA and protein sequences, indicating a shared ancestry.

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What is the role of natural selection in evolution?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, leading to evolutionary change.

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What is the importance of homologous structures in evolutionary biology?

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Homologous structures are anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, providing evidence for evolution.

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What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

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Homologous structures arise from a common ancestor, while analogous structures serve similar functions but do not share a common evolutionary origin.

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What is the concept of adaptive radiation?

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Adaptive radiation is the process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.