Evolution: The gradual change in species over time due to genetic variation and natural selection.
Homologous organs: Structures that have a similar basic design but different functions, indicating a common ancestry.
Speciation: The process by which new species evolve from existing ones due to genetic differences and reproductive isolation.
Natural selection: A process where organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce, passing beneficial traits to offspring.
Artificial selection: The selective breeding of organisms by humans to produce desired traits.
Industrial melanism: A phenomenon where darker-colored individuals become more common due to environmental pollution, as seen in the peppered moths.
Paleontology: The study of fossils to understand the history of life and evolution.
Comparative anatomy: The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species to understand evolutionary relationships.
Vestigial organs: Organs that have lost their original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.
Selective breeding: The intentional breeding of organisms with desirable traits to enhance those characteristics in future generations.