One concept that supports the theory of evolution states that organisms best adapted for survival are the ones that will reproduce and pass traits on to future generations. In the diagram below B, C, and D represent organisms that exist in the present time and show a striking similarity to each other in their bone structure. Two organisms are closely related and are thought to share a similar evolutionary history. The development of many different organisms is part of an evolutionary process which has occurred for billions of years. Fossils of early organisms are much more complex than those of later organisms.
Organisms living today show no relationship to organisms living billions of years ago.
Changing environments on the earth have resulted in the extinction of many organisms. Indicate whether the following statements are true or false based on your knowledge of the living environment and study of evolutionary theories. The concept of biological evolution is that the Earth's present-day species developed from earlier, distinctly different species. The sorting and recombination of genes during mitosis and fertilization result in a great variety of different gene combinations which drive the process of evolution. New heritable characteristics can result from new combinations of existing genes or from mutations of genes in reproductive cells.