Practice Presentation (Evidence for Evolution)

evidence for Evolution

Info

Contextualize your topic

Essential Question

What forms of Evidence Support the Theory of Evolution?

Fossil Evidence

Homologous Structures

Analogous Structures

Molecular Data

Quick Check

Vestigial Structures

Embryology

Fossil Evidence

What is a Fossil?

• Any trace or remains of an organism that has been preserved by natural processes.
• Studying fossils allows scientists to compare the remains of ancient organisms with present day species to determine evolutionary relationships.
• The older the fossil, the deeper it will be buried

Homologous Structures

• Homo= "same"
• Similar internal structure, but different form and function.
• Indicates a common ancestor
• based on comparative anatomy

Molecular Data

• Uses genetic information
• compares nucleotide sequence of DNA and/or RNA
• the higher the similarities the more closely related
• allows scientist to determine when species diverged

Analogous Structures

• similar external form/different internal form
• similar function
• no evolutionary relationship
• similarity due to similar environment or function(s)

Embryology

• Study of the formation and development of embryos into a fetus
• organisms with common ancestors have similar developmental structures
• Ex: lungs, limbs, eye buds, spinal cord, tail bone etc.

Vestigial Structures

• structures no longer of use
• organisms can live without them
• presence suggest past purpose

Quiz

Head over to Canvas and take the "Darwin and Lamarck Evolution Quiz"