Exploring Evidence Supporting the Theory of Evolution

Professor White discusses the evidence supporting evolution, including fossils, comparative anatomy, embryology, and biochemistry. Fossils reveal the history of life and transitional forms. Comparative anatomy shows homologous, analogous, and vestigial structures. Embryology highlights common ancestry through similar developmental patterns. Biochemical similarities in DNA and proteins indicate evolutionary relationships.

How do fossils provide evidence for climate change?

• They do not provide such evidence

• By indicating ancient climate conditions

• By showing modern climate conditions

• By showing changes in sediment layers

What is a fossil?

• A type of rock

• Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms

• A type of mineral

• A historical artifact

What type of fossil is formed by minerals replacing organic material?

• Cast

• Petrification

• Imprint

• Mold

Which dating technique uses isotopes like Carbon-14?

• Isotope fractionation

• Crystallographic dating

• Radioisotope dating

• Sedimentary dating

What are homologous structures?

• Structures that are similar in basic form and derived from common ancestors

• Randomly occurring structures in nature

• Structures that are different in basic form but similar in function

• Structures in different species with similar functions

Which structures are derived from the same embryonic origin but differ in function?

• Homologous structures

• None of the above

• Analogous structures

• Vestigial structures

What does analogous structure indicate?

• No evolutionary relationship

• Common ancestry

• Convergent evolution

• Divergent evolution

What evidence do vestigial structures provide?

• Evidence of structures with no historical relevance

• Evidence of essential functions in current organisms

• Evidence of structures that had functions in ancestral organisms

• Evidence of future evolutionary paths

What does embryology suggest about evolution?

• Embryos of different species show no similarities

• Embryos of different species show distinct developmental stages

• Embryos of different species exhibit similar developmental stages

• Embryological development is unique to each species

Which molecule is common to all photosynthetic organisms?

• Cytoplasm

• Ribosomes

• Chlorophyll

• Mitochondria