Question

Evidence for Evolution

1) Describe the types of data that provide evidence for evolution.
2) Explain how morphological, biochemical, and geological data provide evidence that organisms have changed over time.
3) Explain how shared, conserved, fundamental processes and features support the concept of common ancestry for all organisms.
4) Explain how morphological, biochemical, and geological data provide evidence that organisms have changed over time.
5)Describe the types of evidence that can be used to infer an evolutionary relationship.

Answer 1

Morphological and genetic evidence support the concept of evolution by showing similarities in physical features and genetic sequences. Fossils provide evidence of change over time and a shared ancestral lineage. Shared, conserved fundamental processes and features further support the concept of common ancestry.

Step-by-step explanation:

Scientists collect two types of evidence to uncover the facts and make evolutionary connections. Morphological evidence focuses on form and function, while genetic evidence examines the genetic sequences of organisms. Organisms that share similar physical features and genetic sequences are more closely related, which is known as homologous structures. Examples include the homologous structure of bat and bird wings.

Fossils provide solid evidence for evolution by showing a progression of form over millions of years. By examining fossils from different time periods, scientists can determine when organisms lived and how they changed over time. For example, the shared morphology of the whale flipper and bird/mammal appendages suggests a common ancestor.

Shared, conserved, fundamental processes and features also support the concept of common ancestry. These are processes and features that are present in all organisms, such as DNA replication and amino acid sequences. The presence of these shared processes and features across different organisms provides evidence for a common ancestry.