Evolution Vocabulary Quiz ~Mrs. Connor

species A group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring

vestigial structure Remnants of structures that had a useful role at one time but no longer do

extinction Dying out of an species

paleontologist Scientist who reconstructs past life from fossils

era Large block of time characterized by a dominant animal

fossil Solidified remains or imprints of once-living organisms

mutation Change in DNA

adaptation A characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce

fossil record Historical sequence of life

natural selection Organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce more brown beetles