4.2

• Scientists believe that all the living organisms on Earth share a common ancestor and that this can be proven through our DNA
• Aside from DNA, there are other things that scientists believe can prove as evidence of evolution
• Explain DNA/protein sequences, homology, and embryology as evidence of evolution

  1. DNA/protein sequences

  2. Homology

  3. Embryology
• Explain how structural and genetic evidence provides proof of evolution

  1. Structural evidence

  2. Genetic evidence
• Describe how homologous structures, analogous structures, and embryological evidence show phylogeny

  1. Homologous structures

  2. Analogous structures

  3. Embryological evidence
• Identify how DNA and protein sequences account for the characteristics of organisms

  1. DNA sequences

  2. Protein sequences
• Comparative Anatomy


  Focuses on studying the differences and similarities between the anatomy of organisms
• Homologous structures


  • Structures in organisms that are similar in terms of structure but may have different functions
• Analogous structures


  • Structures that have similar functions even though they have evolved independently between different organisms
• Vestigial structures


  • Structures that have no function in the organism
• Embryology


  • The similarities between embryos of different species can be used for tracking evolutionary relationships
• Fossils


  • Scientists are able to piece together structural evidence from fossils
• DNA


  Made up of nucleotide sequences that dictate the information that is contained in the molecule
• Organisms that are more closely-related

  Share similar DNA and protein sequences
• Molecular and structural evidence

  • DNA/protein sequences
  • Homology
  • Embryology
  • Homologous structures
  • Analogous structures
  • Vestigial structures
  • Fossils