Process of Evolution

natural selection

variation

time

inheritance

survival of the fittest

fitness is measured by an individuals genetic contribution to future generations

adaptive traits enhance fitness

members of populations compete for limited resources

homologous structures appear in separate lineages dues to common ancestor

analogous structures are parts that look alike but evolved after lineages diverged

fossil records

all life originated from a common ancestor

morphological divergence is a change from the body form or original ancestor

morphological convergence is evolution of similar parts in different lineages

half life is time it takes radioisotopes to decay

radiometric dating is used to measure age of a material

drifting continents is probably why animals can be found in remote locations

Pangea was the original supercontinent

continents are made up of plate tectonics that gradually shift over time