1. Evidence for Evolution
Key Terms:
Fossil
Relative dating
Radioisotope dating/carbon dating
Half Life
Homologous structures
Analogous structures
Vestigial structure
Embryology
Embryo
Biogeography
Comparative morphology

2. Fossil Evidence of Evolution
Fossils: the remains or traces of organisms that live in the past (studied by paleontologists)
Relative dating: a means of identifying the age of a fossil or rock by comparing it to another fossil or rock

3. Fossil Evidence of Evolution
Half-life: the amount of time needed for one-half of a radioactive element to decay
Radioisotope dating: measures the age of a material by comparing the amount of a radioactive form of an element contained in the material with the amount of decay product
Carbon dating: using carbon to determine the age of a fossil

4. Physical Features: Comparative Anatomy
Homologous structures: body parts of different organisms that have a similar structure, but may have different functions

5. Physical Features: Comparative Anatomy
Analogous structures: body parts that have a similar function, but not a similar structure

6. Physical Features: Comparative Anatomy
Vestigial structures: body parts that do not seem to play a major role in an organism’s life functions

7. Physical Features: Comparative Anatomy
Comparative morphology: a branch of science in which the structures of living things are compared to understand better the development and relationship among species
Embryology: the study of embryos or animals before birth
Embryo: an early stage in the development of an organism
Biogeography: distribution of species on Earth over the course of history

8. Biochemical Evidence for Evolution
All organisms have DNA.
DNA directs the production of proteins, which are made up of amino acids.
Scientists study both the sequences of bases in DNA and the resulting proteins to compare organisms.
The more closely related two organisms are, the more similar the components of these molecules are.