Lecture 3

Question 1

4 Evidence for Evolution

Answer 1

1. Geological (paleotological)
2. Homological
3. Biogeographical
4. Domestication

Question 2

Geological/paleontological evidence of evolution

Answer 2

Discovery of transitonal fossils link features of seemingly dissimilar relatives. Discovery of fossils of different ages show that the older the fossils is, the more different it is from modern species

Question 3

Homological evidence of evolution

Answer 3

Similarity of traits in species due to inheritance from common ancestor

• Genes shared across all life forms
• Homologous structures

Question 4

Types of Structures

Answer 4

• Vestigial: common ancestor, no feature, reduced morphology
• Homologous: same structure: common ancestor, different function

Question 5

Biogeographical evidence of evolution

Answer 5

Organisms living under same environmental conditions adapt in the same manner and start to resemble each other.

Question 6

Domestication: evidence for evolution

Answer 6

Artificial selection as the human imposed analog to natural selection in the wild