Table of Contents
- 1 What makes living organisms similar to one another?
- 2 What did Darwin infer from his observations of organisms on the Galapagos Islands and those on the mainland?
- 3 What are two things that similar organisms share?
- 4 What does it mean when organisms look similar over time?
- 5 How are organisms related in the process of natural selection?
What makes living organisms similar to one another?
Every living creature has DNA, which has a lot of inherited information about how the body builds itself. Scientists can compare the DNA of two organisms; the more similar the DNA, the more closely related the organisms. This method can also help when looks are deceptive.
What did Darwin infer from his observations of organisms on the Galapagos Islands and those on the mainland?
What did Darwin infer from his observations of organisms in South America and the Galapagos Islands? The organisms on the Galapagos Islands were virtually identical to mainland organisms. A small number of different plant and animal species had come to the mainland from the Galapagos Islands.
Why do scientists think related species have similar body structures and development patterns?
Why do scientists think related species have similar body structures and development patterns? The species inherited many of the same genes from a common ancestor. Only traits that are controlled by genes can be acted on by natural selection.
Which two organisms are most closely phylogenetically related?
Which pair of organisms are most closely related? Organisms 2 and 3 are most closely related because they have the same family name. Organism 2 is a lion, organism 3 is a common housecat, and organism 1 is a human.
Two groups of organisms with similar characteristics may share a common ancestor. Species with similar evolutionary histories are classified more closely together. To determine whether two organisms are related, scientists may compare the chemical makeup of their cells.
What does it mean when organisms look similar over time?
Homologous structures If two organisms look very similar during their early stages of development, this is evidence that the organisms evolved from a _______ ancestor. Common The gradual change i a species over time is called _______.
How are similarities in early development evidence for evolution?
Similarities in early development are not evidence for evolution. Which of these is one of the main ways that a new species forms? a. Cross-breeding occurs within the species. b. A group is separated from the rest of the species. Competition occurs between members of the species. d. Mutations occur in the alleles of members of the species.
How are different groups of organisms related to each other?
A diagram that shows how scientists think different groups of organisms are related. Which term refers to similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor? Homologous structures
In the process of natural selection, the organisms that are best suited to their environments are most likely to survive and ______. Reproduce Scientists show how groups of organisms may be related by placing them on a diagram called a(n) _______. Branching tree