Evolution

Question 1

Types of Evolution

Answer 1

divergent and convergent

Question 2

divergent evolution

Answer 2

• A single species evolves into two or more different species through speciation.
• These different species retain some characteristics of their common ancestor. These are known as homologous structures.

Question 3

convergent evolution

Answer 3

• Two or more different species are exposed to similar selection pressures.
• They develop different structures to perform a similar task. These are known as analogous structures.

Question 3

Evidences for Evolution

Answer 3

Fossil Record, embryology, comparative anatomy, DNA and Protein Similarities

Question 4

fossil record

Answer 4

Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms from a past geological age. Fossils allowed scientists to develop an understanding of extinct species. Through the use of carbon dating the age of fossils can be determined. As more and more fossils have been discovered, missing links in the evolutionary chain have been filled in order to support the Theory of Evolution.

Question 5

Embryology

Answer 5

• Embryology is the study of how an embryo develops.
• Vertebrates become wildly different as they age, but during the early stages of development they are quite similar.
• These similarities suggest that these organisms all had a common ancestor.

Question 6

Comparative anatomy - Homologous structures

Answer 6

• Similar structures in different organisms
• Evidence that the organisms diverged from a common ancestor

Question 7

vestigial structures

Answer 7

• Functionless structures found in organisms, which help provide evidence of evolution, as these structures were once useful to the organism