Evidence of Evolution Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the Evidence of Evolution review covering key concepts in fossils, embryology, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology.

Equus

The genus of modern horses, characterized by a larger skull size and single-toed (hoofed) leg structure compared to its evolutionary ancestors.

Eohippus

Also known as the Dawn Horse, an early ancestor in the horse evolutionary series having a significantly smaller skull and multi-toed front legs.

Embryology

The study of the early development of organisms before birth, where physical similarities among distinct species suggest a common ancestor.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features in different species that share a common anatomical theme and structure but may serve different functions, indicating close evolutionary relationship and common ancestry.

Homologous Forelimb Bones Diagram

A comparative anatomical diagram displaying identical bone arrangements (humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges) across diverse animals including humans, whales, cats, birds, bats, and crocodiles.

Analogous Structures

Anatomical features that have very different internal structures but perform similar functions, found in organisms that adapted to similar environments rather than sharing a close common ancestor.

Butterfly Wing vs. Bird Wing Diagram

An illustration comparing analogous structures that perform the same overall function (flight) despite having fundamentally different internal forms.

Vestigial Structures

Anatomical remnants that were functional in an organism's ancestors but are no longer used in the same way or have lost their original function.

Cave Fish vs. Minnow Comparison Diagram

An illustration depicting structural divergence and vestigial traits, showing a sighted minnow alongside a cave fish that evolved without functional eyes in dark environments.

Cytochrome c

A mitochondrial protein consisting of 104 amino acids present in most animals, used in molecular biology to determine evolutionary relationships by comparing sequence variations.

Molecular Biology

A branch of biology that uses biochemical data, such as DNA sequences or amino acid structures in shared proteins, as evidence to determine genetic closeness and evolutionary origins.