Topic 6

Question 1

What is comparative embryology?

Answer 1

reveals anatomical homologies that are visible only during embryonic development

• homologous embryonic structures are evidence for species evolving from a common ancestor.

Question 2

What are molecular homologies?

Answer 2

genes shared among organisms inherited from a common ancestor

• ex: humans share 99% of their DNA with chimpanzees

Question 3

what are vestigial structures?

Answer 3

reduced or non-functional features that served important functions in an organism’s ancestors.

-ex: whales have a vestigial pelvis and femur.

Question 4

What is the purpose of fossil record evidence?

Answer 4

• fossils document the existence of now-extinct past species that are related to present-day species

Question 5

What is biogeography?

Answer 5

the study of the geographic distribution of organisms and is based on both living species and fossils.

Question 6

What are endemic species?

Answer 6

only found in a specific area and are not found anywhere else on earth.