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Questions and Answers
What is a fossil?
What is a fossil?
- The remains or traces of an organism that died long ago (correct)
- A living organism
- A homologous body structure
- A geographic distribution of living organisms
Fossils provide the weakest evidence of evolution.
Fossils provide the weakest evidence of evolution.
False (B)
What do fossils found in older rock layers have in common with fossils found in younger rock layers?
What do fossils found in older rock layers have in common with fossils found in younger rock layers?
They show that life on Earth has changed over time.
The age of a material can be determined by measuring the amount of a particular _______________________ isotope it contains.
The age of a material can be determined by measuring the amount of a particular _______________________ isotope it contains.
Match the type of age with its definition:
Match the type of age with its definition:
What can be learned from fossils?
What can be learned from fossils?
Embryology is not an evidence for evolution.
Embryology is not an evidence for evolution.
Scientists seek to determine both the “____________________” and the “absolute age” of a fossil.
Scientists seek to determine both the “____________________” and the “absolute age” of a fossil.
What is one explanation for the similarities in embryological development among different organisms?
What is one explanation for the similarities in embryological development among different organisms?
Darwin believed evolution to be a rapid process.
Darwin believed evolution to be a rapid process.
What is the consequence of the increasing industrialization on the lichens and trees?
What is the consequence of the increasing industrialization on the lichens and trees?
The black color of the moth was the result of a rare __________.
The black color of the moth was the result of a rare __________.
What is the reason for the increase in the proportion of insecticide-resistant individuals in a population?
What is the reason for the increase in the proportion of insecticide-resistant individuals in a population?
The white moths were superior to the black moths.
The white moths were superior to the black moths.
What happens to the effectiveness of a new insecticide over time?
What happens to the effectiveness of a new insecticide over time?
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
The process of evolution by natural selection was observed in the __________ moth.
The process of evolution by natural selection was observed in the __________ moth.
What is the primary purpose of biogeography?
What is the primary purpose of biogeography?
The existence of Archaeopteryx is evidence that birds evolved from reptiles.
The existence of Archaeopteryx is evidence that birds evolved from reptiles.
What is the term for the similarity in characteristics resulting from common ancestry?
What is the term for the similarity in characteristics resulting from common ancestry?
The human tailbone, or __________, is made up of four fused vertebrae that resemble the bones in an animal's tail.
The human tailbone, or __________, is made up of four fused vertebrae that resemble the bones in an animal's tail.
What is the purpose of studying transitional fossils?
What is the purpose of studying transitional fossils?
Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in function but are different in structure.
Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in function but are different in structure.
What is the significance of vestigial organs in living organisms?
What is the significance of vestigial organs in living organisms?
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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Study Notes
The Evidence for Evolution
- Evolution is supported by five key areas of evidence: the fossil record, biogeography, homologous body structures, embryology, and biological molecules.
The Fossil Record
- Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms that died long ago, providing a record of the history of life on Earth.
- Fossils show that past organisms differed from present-day organisms, and many species have become extinct.
- By comparing fossils from older rock layers with fossils from younger rock layers, scientists can document that life on Earth has changed over time.
- Relative age is the age of an object in relation to the ages of other objects, while absolute age is the actual age of the fossil in years, determined through radioactive dating processes.
- Transitional fossils have features and characteristics intermediate between ancient ancestors and their later descendants, providing evidence of how organisms have changed over time.
Biogeography
- Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of organisms around the world.
- Similar environments on different continents have different species, suggesting that species now living on different continents had different ancestors.
- Because of similar selection pressures, different animals on each continent evolved with similar features.
Homologous Body Structures
- Homologous structures are body parts that are similar in structure but different in function, resulting from common ancestry.
- Examples include the bone structure of human arms, cat forelegs, horse forelegs, bat wings, and dolphin flippers.
- These homologous structures show that different organisms shared a common ancestor in their distant past.
Vestigial Organs
- Vestigial organs are structures that seem to be “left over” from a previous ancestor and serve no purpose in the living organism.
- Examples include the skeletons of present-day whales, which reveal remnants of hipbones and leg bones, and the human tailbone, or coccyx.
Embryology
- Embryology is the study of embryos and their development.
- Embryos of different species look very similar in their early stages of development, suggesting that these organisms shared a common ancestor.
- All vertebrate embryos have structures called pharyngeal gill slits in their throat regions and a postanal tail at some point during their development.
Biological Molecules
- All species of life have the same basic genetic machinery of DNA and RNA.
- All types of green plants have similar types of chlorophylls, showing similarities at the molecular level.
Evolution in Action
- Evolution can be observed directly in some organisms due to the effects of human civilization, such as industrialization and pollution.
- Examples include the peppered moth, which evolved from light-colored to dark-colored moths in response to pollution, and the evolution of insecticide-resistant insects.
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