Common Ancestry Review

structures that have the same function but evolved from different ancestors

• 
  

  ancestor

• analogous structure

• cladogram

• species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

organism in the past from which today's organisms developed

• 
  

  ancestor

• analogous structure

• cladogram

• species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

a branching diagram showing the relationship between different species

• 
  

  ancestor

• analogous structure

• cladogram

• species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

offspring that has not hatched or been born

• 
  

  embryo

• vestigial structure

• homologous structure

• fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

structure that evolved from a common ancestor

• 
  

  embryo

• vestigial structure

• homologous structure

• fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

structure that serves limited or no function

• 
  

  embryo

• vestigial structure

• homologous structure

• fossil

Why is the theory of evolution considered strong evidence for the concept of common ancestry?

• It proves that species adapt instantly to their environments.

• It demonstrates that all species share identical genetic sequences.

• It suggests that all species are created separately.

• It explains how species change over time through natural selection.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

In a cladogram, such as the example, what do the branching points represent?

• the time at which a species went extinct

• the current geographic distribution of species

• common ancestors shared by the species

• the ecological niches of different species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

What is the significance of identifying vestigial structures in the embryos of different animals?

• It demonstrates that embryos are fully developed at birth.

• It suggests that embryos of various animals share a common evolutionary history.

• It supports the idea that embryos of different species have identical structures.

• It proves that all embryos have the same function.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Consider two different animal species. In their embryonic development, both species exhibit vestigial leg structures that are no longer functional in the adult stage. What does this similarity suggest about the evolutionary relationship between the two species?

• They belong to two completely different groups of organisms.

• They are part of completely different evolutionary lineages.

• They evolved independently from each other.

• They share a common ancestor with functional legs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3