Name
Class
Date
16.4 Evidence of Evolution
Lesson Objectives
Explain how geologic distribution of species relates to their evolutionary history.
Explain how fossils and the fossil record document the descent of modern species from
ancient ancestors.
Describe what homologous structures and embryology suggest about the process of
evolutionary change.
Explain how molecular evidence can be used to trace the process of evolution.
Explain the results of the Grants’ investigation of adaptation in Galápagos finches.
BUILD Vocabulary
A. The chart below shows key terms from the lesson with their definitions. Complete the chart by
writing a strategy to help you remember the meaning of each term. One has been done for
you.
How I’m Going to Remember the
Meaning
Term
Definition
Analogous
structures
Body parts that share the
same function but not the
same structure
Biogeography
The study of where
organisms now live and
where their ancestors lived in
the past
Homologous
structures
Structures that are shared by
organisms and that have
been inherited from a
common ancestor
Vestigial
structures
Homologous structures that
have little or no useful
function in an organism
Bio refers to life, and geography refers to
land, so biogeography refers to where
organisms live.
B. As you work through this lesson, you may find these terms in the activities. When you need to
write a key term or a definition, highlight the term or the definition.
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Name
Class
Date
BUILD Understanding
Concept Map A concept map can help you organize information and show how ideas are
connected. As you read Lesson 4, fill in the concept map below. Some has been done for you.
Biogeography
is the
study of
show
Evidence
of
Evolution
includes
Comparing
anatomy
Includes
looking at
and
like
The Grants’ Study of Galápagos finches
Embryology
The Age of Earth and Fossils
In the fossil record, an intermediate form is a fossil that shows some characteristics of an earlier
related organism and some characteristics of a later related organism. The diagrams below show
organisms whose fossils make up part of the fossil record. The organisms are in order from oldest
(organism 1) to most recent (organism 6).
Follow the directions. Use the diagrams to answer the questions.
1. Draw an animal that might have been an intermediate form between organism 1 and organism
3.
2. Draw an animal that might have been an intermediate form between organism 4 and organism
6.
Organism 1
Organism 2
Organism 3
Organism 4
Organism 5
Organism 6
3. Describe one change you see between organism 1 and organism 3.
4. How might these fossils provide evidence for evolution?
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Name
Class
Date
Comparing Anatomy and Embryology/Genetics and
Molecular Biology
Darwin’s basic ideas about evolution have been supported by scientific evidence. The chart below
lists some of the evidence of evolution.
Use the words in the box and what you know about the evidence supporting evolution to
complete the chart.
Biogeography
genetics
fossil record
embryological development
Type of Evidence
What It Reveals
homologous structures
Different species have similar structures which have
been inherited from a common ancestor.
Animals with backbones have a common ancestor, as
shown by how these organisms develop before they
are born.
Intermediate forms show that organisms have changed
over time.
Species have adapted over time to local conditions.
Almost all organisms share a common genetic code.
Answer the questions.
1. Give an example of two homologous body structures.
2. What is the difference between a homologous structure and an analogous structure?
3. How have advances in molecular biology provided evidence for evolution?
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Name
Class
Date
BUILD Understanding
Finch Beak Tools An analogy takes two things that seem to be different and shows how
they can be similar.
1. How does comparing the finches’ beaks to tools help you understand how different beak
shapes can help or harm a finch?
2. Find a partner. Using the analogy, explain to your partner why each species of finch eats
different food.
CHAPTER
MYSTERY
Honeycreepers Imagine you work for a travel agency. Design a travel brochure inviting
people to come to Hawaii to see the honeycreepers. Explain why the honeycreepers provide
evidence of evolution. Draw a sketch of your brochure below.
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