Evolution Unit Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

QUESTIONS LIST:

• selective pressure : a force that causes a particular organism to evolve in a certain direction
• index fossil : a type of organism that only existed for a short period of time
• fossil : the preserved remains or traces of living things
• adaptation : a change in the structure, function, or behavior by which a species or individual improves its chance of survival in a specific environment
• favorable traits : traits that promote an organism's success in an environment
• vestigial : a structure in an organism that has lost all or most of its original function in the course of evolution
• homologous : a part that has a similar structure but different function
• variation : differences in genes between individuals or groups of individuals
• analogous structure : a part that has a similar function but a different look
• natural selection : a process leading to organisms that are more adapted to their environment and are more likely to survive and pass on the genes that aided their success
• dichotomous key : a tool used to identify different organisms based on the organism's observable traits
• unfavorable traits : traits that do not promote an organism's success in an environment
• anatomy : the study of the structure of the body of an organism
• classification : used to group organisms in a meaningful way
• evolution : changes in the heritable traits of a population of organisms as successive generations replace one another
• fossil record : the use of fossils to help us understand the history of earth; another form of evidence for evolution
• taxonomy : the science of identifying and classifying all organisms
• artificial selection : a process where humans choose parent organisms with specific traits and allow them to reproduce