​Evolution

​The scientific theory explaining how organisms have changed over long periods of time through descent from common ancestors

​Charles Darwin

Took part in a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle where he made observations and collected a variety of specimens.

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​Introduced the theory of evolution

​Genetic Variation

Individuals have natural variations among their heritable traits.​

​Mutation

​Any change within the genetic material of a cell.

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​A primary source of evolution.

​Struggle for Existence

​When more individuals are produced than can survive, members of a population must compete to obtain food, living space, and other limited necessities of life

​Adaptation

​Any heritable characteristic that increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce

​Common Descent

​All species, living and extinct, are descended from ancient common ancestors.

​Speciation

​The formation of a new species from an already existing species.

​Geographic Isolation

​When two populations are separated by physical barriers such as rivers, mountains, or bodies of water.

​Natural Selection

​The process by which organisms with variations most suited to their environment survive and reproduce.

​Fitness

​The measure of how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment.

​Fossil

​Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

​Vestigial Structures

​Structures that are inherited from ancestors but have lost much or all of their original function.

​Comparison of Amino Acids

​The more similar the sequences of amino acids are between two species, the more closely related they are believed to be.

​Embryology

​Similar patterns of early development provide evidence that organisms have descended from a common ancestor.

​Analogous Structures

​Body parts that share similar function but not structure

​Homologous Structure

Structures that are shared by related species and that have been inherited by a common ancestor​