Question | Answer |
inherited trait (structure or behavior) that helps an organism survive | adaptation |
process of how organisms acquire adaptations over time (change traits across generations) | evolution |
tree-like diagram that displays evolutionary relationships among living things and their ancestors | cladogram |
What are four types/lines of evidence for evolution? | comparative anatomy, biochemical evidence, embryology, fossil record |
What structures have a common origin (same pattern) but do not need to perform the same function | homologous |
How is embryology show if organisms are more related to each other? | if they are MORE similar as late stage embryos then they are MORE related to each other |
How is biochemical evidence used to determine evolutionary evidence? | Comparing DNA or AMINO ACID sequences for specific genes |
Why are there gaps in the fossil record? | Most organisms (probably 1% or less) don't leave fossils - they aren't in the right place at the right time, their remains are disturbed before they can fossilized |
What type of evidence studies similarities and differences in body structures? | comparative anatomy |
The term for a developing vertebrate offspring | embryo |
A spot on a cladogram that represents a common ancestor | node |
term for new features that separate new species from past ones; is used to separate branches on a cladogram | derived characteristic |
What types of things do all early vertebrate embryos have in common? | tail, pharyngeal (gill) slits, eyes |
what do all cells have in common? | they all have same type of cell membranes and use DNA and all use cellular respiration for energy |
If two organisms have MORE differences in gene/amino acid sequence, then they are | Less related |
Give an example of homologous structures | arms in vertebrates (bat wings, human arms, whale flippers, cat paws, etc.) |
Give an example of analogous structures | wings in bats v bids v insects; fins/flippers in fish/dolphins/penguins |
Give examples of vestigial structures | goosebumps, ear muscles, and tailbone in humans as well as whale hip bones |
Structures with a similar function that did NOT come from a common ancestor | analogous |
Structures inherited from an ancestor that do not have a function | vestigial |
A species that shows features in between two different other major forms. | transitional fossil |
Tiktaalik is a transitional fossil between... | fish and tetrapods |
What is a tetrapod? | a four legged land animal |
Archeopteryx is a transitional fossil between... | a dinosaur and a bird |