Topic 7.6 - Evidence for Evolution 𖦹⋆｡°✩ Flashcards
what evidence from extant/extinct organisms have been found and what does it provide us with information about
molecular, morphological, and genetic evidence adds to our understanding of evolution
what specific evidence supports evolution and why
༻ geographical - characteristics of a habitat/land area
༻ geological - environmental features of the earth over time
༻ physical - phenotypes of species
༻ biochemical - chemical composition of living things
༻ mathematical - calculations and statistics used to illustrate/support evolution
what are fossils
the preserved remains, impression, or trace of once living organisms from the past
how can fossils be dated
༻ the age or the rocks where a fossil is found
༻ the rate of decay of isotopes including carbon-14
༻ geographical data
fossil records are incomplete, but what do they provide us with
they provide us with information about earth’s history and the living world that existed at that time
what are morphological homologies and what do they represent
morphological homologies represent modified traits shared among different species
what are homologous structures and provide an example
variation in a structure that was present in a common ancestor. for example, the bone structure of human arms, cat legs, horse legs, bat wings, and dolphin fins
what are vestigial structures and provide an example
reduced/obsolete features that serve little or no purpose for the organism. for example, the bone structure for legs in some snakes, hip bone structures in whales, human tailbone
what are analogous structures
structures that evolved independently in different species due to similar environmental conditions/selective pressures
what does a comparison of DNA nucleotide sequences/protein amino acid sequences provide
evidence for evolution and common ancestry:
༻ same/similar genetic code
༻ same/similar process of gene expression
༻ same genetic language of DNA and RNA
✩REVIEW LAST QUESTION FROM VIDEO LESSON✩
