Name: ___________________________
Much evidence has been found to indicate that living things have evolved or changed gradually during their natural history. The study of fossils as well as work in Embryology, Biochemistry, and Comparative Anatomy provides evidence for evolution.
Objective:
In this activity you will learn about homologous, analogous, and vestigial structures and their significance in the theory of evolution. You will learn about the fossil record, comparative embryology, and comparative biochemistry.
Vocabulary:
Define a homologous structure
Define an analogous structure (character)
Part I Fossil Evidence
I. A fossil is the remains, or traces, of organisms that lived long ago. The fossil record shows that organisms have changed over time. It shows that the earliest organisms were simple organisms. They lived in water. Fossils show that these organisms evolved into more complex organisms over millions of years. A few key points are…
Most fossils are found in layered rocks.
The lower layers were laid down first. They are older than the layers are above them.
Fossils found in the lower layers are older than fossils found in the upper layers.
Directions: Figure A shows five rock layers. Study the layers and then answer the questions. Each contains fossils.
a. Which rock layer is the oldest?
b. Which rock layer is the youngest?
c. Which layer has the oldest fossils?
d. Which layer has the youngest fossils?
e. Fossils found in layer C are _________________ than fossils found in layers D and E.
f. Fossils found in layer C are _________________ than fossils found in layers A and B.
II. Evolution of the horse according to the fossil record. The first horse appeared about 60 million years ago. Since that time, it has been changing.
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