Evidence For Evoltuion

Question 1

What is the fossil record?

Answer 1

Study of fossils show organisms change over time while still being the same species. Or the disappearance or appearance of a species shows evolution in an era.

Question 2

What are homologous structures?

Answer 2

Homologous structures are different mature forms of body parts in different organisms, but develop from the same embryonic tissue. It shows there must’ve been a common ancestor for the similar kind of tissue or bone to be used in multiple ways in multiple organisms.
Ex. Leg and wing

Question 3

What are vestigial structures?

Answer 3

Vestigial structures are those that serve no useful function in an organism. The fact that an organism has such a body part suggest that there was an evolution change to make that part no longer useful.
For humans examples are:
Appendix, miniature legs, tonsils, pinky toe

Question 4

Describe the similarities in early development for the evidence of evolution.

Answer 4

In the first stages of development, fish, chicks, pigs, rabbits, salamanders, calf are very similar to humans. As development progresses humans lose the tail for example and start to take on a different form. The fact that early development is very similar shows that they share a common ancestor. Because the processes following that are different shows that each species have evolved to become separate.

Question 5

What are the 4 pieces of evidence supporting the theory of evolution?

Answer 5

1. The fossil record
2. Homologous structures
3. Vestigial structures
4. Similarities in early development