Download Body parts of organisms that are structurally similar in related species

7B Science (Mrs. Lee)
Study Guide for C5.2
1. Key Terms
Vocabulary Word(s)
What does it mean?
1. homologous structures
Body parts of organisms that are
structurally similar in related species; this
provides evidence that these organisms all
evolved from a common ancestor
2. branching tree
A diagram showing how scientists think
different groups of organisms are related
2. What did scientists use to determine the evolutionary relationships
among species?
• fossils
• similarities in early development (i.e. from common ancestor)
• similarities in body structures (e.g. homologous structures)
• DNA
• Protein structure
3. What are the main ways that new species are formed?
• A new species can form when a group of individuals is separated
from the rest of the species.
4. What evidence supports the hypothesis that ancestors of whales once
walked on land?
• Scientist found fossils of whale-like organisms that had legs
Page 1 of 1