1. Darwin thought that species gradually changed over many generations as they became better adapted to new conditions.

This process is called evolution. 2. Darwins observations led him to propose that evolution occurs through natural selection.

5. A species is a group of organisms that can mate with each other to produce fertile offspring. 6. If a group of individuals remains separated from the rest of its species long enough to evolve different traits, a new species can form.

3. Natural selection occurs due to overpopulation, competition, and variations. 4. Only traits controlled by genes can change over time as a result of natural selection.

7. Most fossils form when organisms die and sediments bury them. The sediments harden, preserving parts of the organisms. 8. Relative dating determines which of two fossils is older and which is younger.

9. Absolute dating determines the actual age of a fossil. 10. Fossils help scientists understand how extinct organisms looked and evolved.

13. Homologous structures can provide evidence of how species are related and of how they evolved from a common ancestor. 14. Scientists can compare DNA and protein sequences to determine more precisely how species are related.

11. Evolution has occurred gradually at some times and fairly rapidly at other times. 12. By comparing modern-day organisms, scientists can infer how closely related they are in an evolutionary sense.

15. A branching tree is a diagram that shows how scientists think different groups of organisms are related.