Evidence of Evolution Flashcards
What are the 8 pices of evidence of evolution?
fossil records, biogeography, DNA and molecular biology, homology and comparative structures, embryology, vestigal organs, biodiversity, physiology
What can be seen from fossil records?
- an increase in complexity (resource partitioning)
- increase in diversity
- more extinct species further back in time
- existence of intermediate forms between groups
- overall increase in size (unicellular or multicellular)
What is a transinal fossil?
a link between one fossil and another
What is the purpose of a Cladogram/Phylogenetic Tree?
To show which species are most commonly related
What is Biogeography?
The study of animal distribustion
What is DNA and Molecular Biology?
The relatedness of groups reflected in the similarity of DNA sequence
What is the evidence of DNA and Molecular Biology supporting Evolution?
- all organisms haver descended from a common ancestor because all organisms have DNA and RNA
What is Morphological Divergence?
The development of different structural charateristics in organisms that come from the same ancestor
What is Comparative Embryology and how does it support Evolution?
The similarities in embryos of vertebrae and supports ideas of organisms coming from a common ancestor
What features do vertebrae embryos have?
- nerve cord
- gill slits
- fish-like heart
- tail
What are Vestigal Organs?
structures or organs that seems to serve no use, often useful in other species
What is an example of Vestigal Organs?
the appendix
What is Atavism?
Characteristics that have disappeared and suddenly reappeared
