Honors Biology Unit 6 Evolution

What is Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is part of the larger theory of evolution, developed based on ideas of excess reproduction, variations, inheritance, and the advantages of a specific trait in an environment.

What does the fossil record indicate?

Fossils provide a record of species that lived long ago, supply significant evidence of evolutionary change, and show evolutionary relationships among species.

What is biogeography?

Study of the distribution of plants and animals on Earth, linked with climate and geological forces, aiding in explaining ancestral relationships and geographic distributions in organisms.

What are homologous structures?

Homologous structures are anatomical features inherited from a common ancestor, predicting that similar body parts are likely to be modifications of ancestral body parts.

What are analogous structures?

Analogous structures serve similar purposes but do not indicate evolutionary relationships; they evolve independently in different environments.

What are vestigial structures?

Vestigial structures are features that are reduced in function or have no function, tracing back to an ancestor.

What insights do vertebrate embryos provide?

Vertebrate embryos provide glimpses into evolutionary relationships, showing that related organisms exhibit homologous structures during early development.