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Evidence of Evolution definitions

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  • Homology
    Traits with similar underlying structures across species, indicating inheritance from a shared ancestor.
  • Analogy
    Traits with similar functions but different evolutionary origins, often misleading in determining relationships.
  • Vestigial Structure
    A reduced or nonfunctional trait inherited from ancestors, such as the pelvis in whales or wings in ostriches.
  • Embryologic Homology
    Similarities in early developmental stages among different species, revealing shared ancestry.
  • Molecular Homology
    Similarity in DNA or protein sequences among organisms, reflecting evolutionary relationships.
  • Fossil
    Remains or traces of ancient organisms preserved in rock layers, providing direct evidence of evolutionary change.
  • Tetrapod
    A vertebrate with four limbs, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
  • Descent with Modification
    The process by which inherited traits change over generations, leading to evolutionary diversity.
  • Pharyngeal Arch
    Embryonic structures present in vertebrates, which develop into various adult features depending on the species.
  • Carpal
    Wrist bones found in the forelimbs of tetrapods, part of the evidence for shared limb structure.
  • Extinction
    The complete disappearance of a species, often documented by the absence of its fossils in recent rock layers.
  • Geologic Layer
    Strata of sedimentary rock that serve as a timeline, with deeper layers representing older periods.
  • Transitional Fossil
    A fossil showing intermediate traits between ancestral and derived species, illustrating evolutionary steps.
  • Pelvic Girdle
    A set of bones in the hip region, sometimes present in reduced form as evidence of evolutionary history.
  • Common Ancestor
    An ancestral species from which multiple descendant species have evolved, inferred through shared traits.