Which of these statements best sums up evolution?
change in a population through genetic variation over time
Biology shows us the fossil record and comparative anatomies. Chemistry shows us that organic molecules can come from inorganic matter. Geology shows us that organisms that used to live together are found on separate continents due to continental drift. Which fields of science provide evidence for evolution?
biology, chemistry, and geology
Siblings have similar traits because they inherit those traits from a common ancestor. How is this similar to some evidence for evolution?
Similarities can be seen among related organisms, which shows common ancestry.
A scientist makes the argument that she has found DNA evidence that shows that evolution does not exist. What would her evidence have to show for her to be correct?
Weak genetic similarities in closely related organisms and strong genetic similarities in distantly related organisms.
Which structures are similar in function, but do not indicate that the organisms are related?
analogous structures
Studying the anatomy of different organisms allows scientists to determine how different species have evolved over time. Which type of anatomic structure are bird wings and butterfly wings when compared to each other?
Analogous
Which type of anatomic structure are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of human molars that come in during the late teens or early twenties. In some cases, these teeth come in without problems, but they often have to be removed due to misalignment in the jaw, as shown below. Removal of the teeth does not cause any long-term complications in regard to eating.
Vestigial
Whales have what seem like remnants of a pelvis and femur, as shown here. What are these structures an example of?
vestigial structures
Dogs have a reduced nonfunctional digit on their paws known as a dewclaw. What is this an example of?
vestigial structure
What is the most likely reason that horses and mountain goats have hooves?
They have homologous structures because they have a common ancestor.
Which lists the correct order of evolutionary history?
jellyfish, reptiles, mammals
What is the value of a transitional fossil?
Transitional forms show the evolutionary steps between species.
Australopithecus is an ape that lived in trees, but could walk on two feet. How might fossils from Australopithecus provide evidence for evolution?
Australopithecus is a transitional form between apes and humans.
Marsupials are found in North America and Australia, but they would not have been able to swim across the ocean. According to scientists, how did this group of organisms come to live on two separate continents?
The continents were once connected, and marsupials were able to migrate over the land.
What do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium have in common?
What do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium have in common?
What do scientists need to look at before developing an argument?
The validity of data, claims, hypotheses, and observations.
Which kind of evidence studies mineralized bone, footprints, or organisms trapped in amber to determine common ancestry?
Fossils