Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

Fossil Record

Answer 1

remains of organisms from 10,000 to billions of years ago, which shows the record of how species changed over time, and documents some intermediate species

Question 2

Biogeography

Answer 2

the study of distribution of organisms throughout the world, which shows patterns of groups of organisms living in specific places as they descended from a common ancestor

Question 3

Homologous Structure

Answer 3

structures that are anatomically similar between species because of shared ancestry

Question 4

Vestigial Structures

Answer 4

features that are fully developed in one related group of organisms, but which are reduced and may have no function in another related group of organisms

Question 4

What is an example of a homologous structure?

Answer 4

birds and humans both have anatomically similar limbs (humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges) even though they do different functions

Question 5

What is an example of a vestigial structure?

Answer 5

humans have tail bones
whales have hind leg bones

Question 6

Biochemical

Answer 6

almost all living things use DNA, ATP, the same enzymes, and the same neurotransmitters