evidence for evolution

anatomy

study of the physical structure of organisms

homologous structures

anatomically similar body parts in different species that share a common ancestor, even if they serve different functions

vegstigial structures

feature that was once functional in an ancestral species but has since lost its function due to evolutionary changes

analogous structures

anatomical structures in different species that share similar function but evolved independently, meaning they don’t share a common ancestor

observation

noticing or recording characteristics, properties, or events

antibiotic drug resistance

the ability of bacteria to survive and multiply even when exposed to antibiotics designed to kill them

embryology

study of the development of an embryo from fertilization through its early stages

development

the progressive changes in an organism’s size, shape, and function over its lifespan

homeobox genes

large family of genes that contain a conserved DNA sequence called the homeobox

fossils

preserved animals, impressions, or traces of organisms from the past, typically found in sedinmentary rock

paleontology

study of the history of life on Earth as revealed by fossils

geology

the study of Earth’s physical features, processes, and history, including the evolution of life on Earth

strata

layers of sedimentary rock or soil that are stacked upon one another

radiometric dating

technique used to determine the age of materials, including rocks and fossils, by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within them

comparative molecular biology

comparing the DNA, RNA, amino acid sequence of proteins, and metabolic pathways of related organsims

molecular clock

method used to estimate the time of evolutionary events by comparing the number of mutations in DNA sequences of different species

biogeography

study of the geographic distribution of species and ecosystems over space and time

experiment

testing designed to investigate a specific factor

modeling

simplified representations of complex biological systems or processes to help understand and explain them

artificial selection

selective breeding of plants and animals by humans for desirable traits

selective breeding

the process where humans intentionally choose organisms with desirable traits and allow them to reproduce to create offspring with those same traits