Evidence of Evolution Flashcards
Concept 3
Paleontology
study of prehistoric through the fossil record
Fossils
preserved remains of organisms
-fossil record reveals history + ages of organisms
Transitional Fossils
link ancestors to their descendants
-helps piece together evolutionary history
Morphology
study of the form of living things
Structures: Homologous Structures
similar structures, diff. function bc different environments
-suggests common ancestry
-divergent evolution
Structures: Vestigial Structures
structures with little/ no function
-could be left over from ancestors
-divergent evolution
Structures: Analogous Structures
diff structurally, same functionally
-evolved independently because in diff. organisms
-convergent evolution (not related)
Biogeography
study of geographic distribution of plants/ animals
-species in close regions resemble each other, w/ variation for specific environments
-divergent evolution
Endemic Species
species that exist only in one geographic region
-ex. Galapagos tortoises
Embryology
study of embryo development
-similarities in embryos suggest common ancestry
Biochemistry
study of chemical processes in living things
-Analyzes DNA + proteins to predict common ancestry
Pseudogenes
non-functional genes
-divergent evolution
Direct Observation
microevolution that has been observed because it occured in populations with short lives that reproduce quickly
-ex. peppered moths
-MRSA: antibiotic-resistant bacteria
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