Evidence of Evolution

Flashcards covering key concepts and evidence supporting the theory of evolution.

Evolution

The process of successive changes of characteristics of populations of species over long periods of time.

Speciation

The formation of a new species from a common ancestor.

Common Ancestor

A species of organism from which one or more new species evolve.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Fossil Record

A record of the past that indicates changes in organisms and between species over time.

Adaptive Radiation

A pattern where a small group of species evolves rapidly into different species in different habitats.

Gradualism

A slow, steady rate of evolution in a single line of descent of species.

Punctuated Equilibrium

A pattern of evolution in which species experience periods of stasis interrupted by periods of rapid change.

Biogeography

The study of how different species are distributed in the world and the causes of those distributions.

Embryology

The study of common embryonic traits in different organisms to show the relation of species.

Comparative Anatomy

The analysis of the similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species to determine their relations.

Homologous Structures

Similar structures inherited from a common ancestor that may serve different functions.

Analogous Structures

Structures that evolved independently in different organisms due to similar purposes in similar environments.

Vestigial Structures

Anatomy that used to be necessary for survival but is no longer needed, indicating a common ancestor.

Molecular Homology

The study of similarities in DNA and amino acid sequences among species to identify common ancestry.