Evolution Vocab

2. The individuals with the best adaptations to the environment will survive and reproduce more than those individuals with low fitness in an environment
3. The last shared common ancestor on the branching tree of evolution.
5. The process where the stronger individuals are the ones that survive.
8. The process of selecting a few organisms with desired traits to serve as parents of the next generation
9. His theory explains how modern organisms evolved over millions of years.
12. The millions of fossils that scientists have collected. Newer Fossils are closer to the surface and older ones are in lower layers
13. A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations.
14. The theory that species evolve during short periods of rapid change
15. A technique used t determine which of two fossils is older based on the layer of rock in which it was found.

1. A diagram that shows how scientists think different groups of organisms are related
4. He proposed that all organisms are born with a desire to become better and organisms could change their bodies so they work better in their enviornment.
6. The theory that evolution occurs slowly but steadily.
7. Idea that over time older species evolved into new species
10. A structure that is reduced in size and has little or no function.
11. Body parts that are structurally similar in related species and that provide evidence for a common ancestor.