chapter 17

Evolution

The process of life changing over time.

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Artificial selection

The process of selective breeding.

Adaptation

Heritable characteristic that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction in its environment.

Fitness

The measure of how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment.

Natural selection

The mechanism where organisms with advantageous variations for their environment survive and reproduce more.

Biogeography

The study of current and past locations of organisms and their ancestors.

Homologous structures

Body parts inherited from a common ancestor but serving different functions.

Vestigial structures

Body parts that have lost their original function in the course of evolution.

Analogous structures

Body parts with similar functions but not from a common ancestor.

Charles Darwin

Known as the father of evolution.

Hutton and Lyell

Scientists who proposed that the Earth is ancient and constantly changing.

Thomas Malthus

Reasoned that unchecked human population growth would lead to resource scarcity.

Differences between Homologous and Analogous

Homologous structures share a common ancestor but have different functions, while analogous structures have similar functions but no common ancestry.