Evidence for Evolution

Question 1

Comparative Embryology

Answer 1

comparison of embryo development across species

Question 2

Homologous structures

Answer 2

similar skeletal or organ features in multiple species that suggest common ancestor connection

Question 3

analogous structures

Answer 3

structures that serve similar purposes but are found in different evolutionary lines

Question 4

Comparative anatomy

Answer 4

comparative study of body structures in different animals to understand their adaptive changes as they evolved from common ancestors

Question 5

Molecular biology

Answer 5

study of molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells

Question 6

biogeography

Answer 6

distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and geological time

Question 7

fossil record

Answer 7

group of fossils analyzed and arranged chronologically in sedimentary rocks

Question 8

strata

Answer 8

layers of rock that contains fossils. Layers help to identify species that lived at similar times

Question 9

Gondwana

Answer 9

ancient continent that included Australia, Antartica, Africa, India, and America, but drifted apart during the early Triassic

Question 10

Divergent Evolution

Answer 10

populations with a common ancestor evolve and become different, forming new species

Question 11

convergent evolution

Answer 11

organisms that are not closely related but have similar features. Dont share a common ancestor, but have similar adaptations

Question 12

Gradualism

Answer 12

small changes over a long time, large morphological changes occurred in small steps across many years

Question 13

Punctuated equilibrium

Answer 13

theory that evolution occurs through short bursts of intense speciation, followed by long periods of stasis, sudden and rapid due to sudden environmental change

Question 14

Co-evolution

Answer 14

evolution of 2 or more species that influence each others evolution, close ecological interactions that drives change in each other

Question 15

Cladogram

Answer 15

diagram to show the relationship between different species, shows common ancestors and relative species

Question 16

Adaptive radiation

Answer 16

when an organism is able to successfully spread into other environments and niches, resulting in speciation of populations, rapidly

Question 17

Mass extinction

Answer 17

when an event causes a large amount of the worlds biodiversity to be lost

Question 18

Continental drift

Answer 18

hypothesis that the earths continents moved away from each other over a long time