Evidence of Evolution

A hypothesis that has not been tested.

A well-substantiated explanation of the natural world, based on facts repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

A guess made without any evidence.

An opinion that varies from person to person.

A technique used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

A method for predicting future geological events based on past data.

A process of dating historical artifacts using carbon-14.

A way to measure the temperature of radioactive materials.

Body parts that share a common function, but not structure, and were not inherited from a common ancestor.

Body parts that share a common structure and function, inherited from a common ancestor.

Body parts that have no function and are remnants of evolution.

Body parts that are identical in structure and function, but serve different purposes.

The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is translated into proteins by living cells.

A sequence of nucleotides in DNA that determines the traits of an organism.

A type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

The process by which DNA is replicated before cell division.

A type of gene that regulates the immune system.

A group of related 'master control' genes that determine the basic body plan of an embryo during development.

Genes that are responsible for color vision in humans.

A class of genes that control the aging process.

Structures that are fully functional and necessary for survival.

Structures inherited from ancestors that have lost much or all of their original function due to evolutionary change.

Structures that are newly developed and essential for adaptation.

Structures that are identical in function across different species.

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment, contributing genes to the next generation.

The physical condition of being in good shape and health.

The process of engaging in physical activities to improve health and fitness.

A measure of how well an organism can adapt to changes in its environment.

The preserved remains, impressions, or traces of organisms that lived in the past, often found in rock.

A type of rock formed from volcanic activity.

A living organism that has not yet been discovered.

A modern plant species that has existed for a long time.

The process where organisms with variations most suited to their local environment survive and leave more offspring.

A method of breeding plants and animals for desired traits.

The random change in allele frequencies in a population over time.

A theory that suggests all species are immutable and do not change over time.

The study of genetic mutations in organisms.

The study and comparison of early developmental stages of different organisms to reveal ancestral relationships.

The analysis of adult forms of organisms to determine evolutionary relationships.

The examination of fossil records to understand extinct species.