Amplify - Evolutionary History

science

Adaptive Trait

A trait that makes it more likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment.

Body Structure

Any part of an organism.

Ancestor Population

An older population from which two or more newer species descended or evolved from.

Shared Structure

A body structure in two or more species that has the same parts (for example, the same bones).

Paleontologists

Scientists who study fossils in order to understand the ancient history of life on earth.

Evolution

The process by which species adapt to changes in the environment over a very long time.

Organisms

Living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria.

Speciation

The process by which one population evolves into two or more different species.

Species

A group of organisms of the same kind that can successfully reproduce with their own kid.

Stability

When something stays mostly the same over time.

Change of Environment

What causes organisms or species that have certain body structures to change?

Sharing of the Same Ancestry Population.

How do two different species share the same bone structure?

Sharing of the Same Ancestry Population but Said Population Separated into different environments that required different types of said thing.

What causes different species to have the same body part but for different benefits?

Shared Ancestor Population

What causes two or more species to share something?

Limb

An organism’s arm, leg, or wing

Their environment must have changed.

The body structures for a population of chimpanzees were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed, making the chimpanzees stronger. Why did this happen?

The snake and rat both share the same ancestor population that had a quadrate bone.

This fossil snake and this living rat both have a structure in their skull called the quadrate bone. How did this happen?

The salamander and bird both inherited tails from a shared ancestor population. But the population separated into different environments where different types of tails evolved.

This fossil bird and this living salamander both have tails. However, the bird has a very short tail that helps it have a light skeleton for flying. The salamander has a long tail that helps it balance while it runs. Why did this happen?

The octopus and surf clam both inherited the mantle structure from a shared ancestor population.

This octopus and this surf clam both have a body structure called a mantle, which covers their soft bodies. However, the octopus’s mantle has muscles that help the octopus swim. The surf clam’s mantle helps the clam build its shell. Why are the mantles different?

The snake and mouse both inherited the mantle structure from a shared ancestor population

This fossil snake and this living rat both have a structure in their skull called the quadrate bone. What best explains why both species have a quadrate bone?

The salamander and bird both inherited tails from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments.

This fossil bird and this living salamander both have tails. However, they have different tail structures. The bird has a very short tail made of just one bone for flying. The salamander has a long tail with many bones that helps it balance while it runs. What most likely explains why they are different?

All three species share an ancestor population, but sea lions and zebras share a more recent ancestor population.

This bandicoot, this sea lion, and this zebra have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

All three species share a common ancestor, but the Sumatran tiger and Norway rat are more closely related to each other.

What does this diagram show?

All three species share an ancestor population, but the red-eared slider and the greater flamingo share a more recent ancestor population.

This red-eared slider, this greater flamingo, and this siamang have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?