June 21, 2017
Natural Selection:
Natural selection is one of the key parts of the evolution theory. Natural selection is a theory that the most “fit” organisms will survive. What does fit mean? Fit means most adapted. Most adapted means that the organism has more traits than other organisms that will help them survive. Natural selection drives evolution because changes to organisms will, over time, evolve them into a new species. Natural selection picks these changes to a species based on how well they help the organism survive. There isn’t some force controlling natural selection, it is just nature doing its work! Without natural selection, evolution likely wouldn’t occur. Now you know what natural selection is!
Natural Selection:
Natural selection is one of the key parts of the evolution theory. Natural selection is a theory that the most “fit” organisms will survive. What does fit mean? Fit means most adapted. Most adapted means that the organism has more traits than other organisms that will help them survive. Natural selection drives evolution because changes to organisms will, over time, evolve them into a new species. Natural selection picks these changes to a species based on how well they help the organism survive. There isn’t some force controlling natural selection, it is just nature doing its work! Without natural selection, evolution likely wouldn’t occur. Now you know what natural selection is!
June 21, 2017
Fossils and Evolution:
Fossils are very important to evolution. They tell us all about what life was like in the past. Fossils are the preserved remains of ancient creatures such as the dinosaurs. What we mostly commonly think of when we hear the word fossils is usually full skeletons. However, fossils can be shells and even hair! However, preserved hair is a very rare fossil that scientists, called paleontologists, haven’t found many of. Fossils show us that life has evolved and changed over time to fit the needs of its environment. This shows us that evolution did occur because organisms have been changing and growing. That’s why fossils are so important to evolution.
Fossils and Evolution:
Fossils are very important to evolution. They tell us all about what life was like in the past. Fossils are the preserved remains of ancient creatures such as the dinosaurs. What we mostly commonly think of when we hear the word fossils is usually full skeletons. However, fossils can be shells and even hair! However, preserved hair is a very rare fossil that scientists, called paleontologists, haven’t found many of. Fossils show us that life has evolved and changed over time to fit the needs of its environment. This shows us that evolution did occur because organisms have been changing and growing. That’s why fossils are so important to evolution.
June 21, 2017
Vestigial Structures:
There are some things on our bodies that have almost zero use to us but they are still there. These are what we call vestigial structures. Your tailbone, your appendix, your wisdom teeth, they’re all vestigial structures. Vestigial structures had use to our ancient ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago but, because we have become so advanced, evolution hasn’t been able to keep up. Therefore, we have these traits. Another reason they don't appear is because it would take too much energy to get rid of a trait rather than keep it if it’s not doing us any harm. For example, the appendix is an organ in your digestive system. It used to help our eating habits because lots of what we ate were raw meats. Now, however, we cook everything and there is very little use for the appendix. It’s still there but it doesn’t do anything for us. That’s a vestigial structure!
Vestigial Structures:
There are some things on our bodies that have almost zero use to us but they are still there. These are what we call vestigial structures. Your tailbone, your appendix, your wisdom teeth, they’re all vestigial structures. Vestigial structures had use to our ancient ancestors hundreds of thousands of years ago but, because we have become so advanced, evolution hasn’t been able to keep up. Therefore, we have these traits. Another reason they don't appear is because it would take too much energy to get rid of a trait rather than keep it if it’s not doing us any harm. For example, the appendix is an organ in your digestive system. It used to help our eating habits because lots of what we ate were raw meats. Now, however, we cook everything and there is very little use for the appendix. It’s still there but it doesn’t do anything for us. That’s a vestigial structure!
June 1, 2017
Homologous and Analogous Structures:
We can tell what species are related to each other by looking at different structures. These structures are called homologous structures. If two animals have homologous structures, they have a common ancestor. Over time, they evolved and those structures came to suit their purpose. For example, birds' and bats' forelimbs (the parts of their wings that are closest to the tips) are homologous structures. They share a common ancestor that had forelimbs that looked like a combination of a bird's forelimb and a bat's forelimb. However, some came out during the day and some came out during the night. Soon, they evolved into birds (day) and bats (night). This can be tricky, however. There's another thing called analogous structures. Many species share a similar trait but they don't have a common ancestor they evolved from. An example is the wings of birds and insects. They both have wings but the birds and insects don't share a common ancestor. That's an analogous structure.
Homologous and Analogous Structures:
We can tell what species are related to each other by looking at different structures. These structures are called homologous structures. If two animals have homologous structures, they have a common ancestor. Over time, they evolved and those structures came to suit their purpose. For example, birds' and bats' forelimbs (the parts of their wings that are closest to the tips) are homologous structures. They share a common ancestor that had forelimbs that looked like a combination of a bird's forelimb and a bat's forelimb. However, some came out during the day and some came out during the night. Soon, they evolved into birds (day) and bats (night). This can be tricky, however. There's another thing called analogous structures. Many species share a similar trait but they don't have a common ancestor they evolved from. An example is the wings of birds and insects. They both have wings but the birds and insects don't share a common ancestor. That's an analogous structure.
June 1, 2017
Evolution:
Have you ever wondered how all life came to be the way it is? It is because of something called evolution. Organisms change over time, getting different traits from their parents. These small changes over time add up and the organism can evolve into a new species. For example, humans came from primates that swung in trees. Over time, they inherited traits from their parents that let them walk on the ground. Eventually, humans came to be because those primates kept evolving and changing to what humans look like today. Evolution was first discovered by a man named Charles Darwin, who we’ll learn about in an upcoming article. Thanks for reading!
Evolution:
Have you ever wondered how all life came to be the way it is? It is because of something called evolution. Organisms change over time, getting different traits from their parents. These small changes over time add up and the organism can evolve into a new species. For example, humans came from primates that swung in trees. Over time, they inherited traits from their parents that let them walk on the ground. Eventually, humans came to be because those primates kept evolving and changing to what humans look like today. Evolution was first discovered by a man named Charles Darwin, who we’ll learn about in an upcoming article. Thanks for reading!
January 10, 2016
Animals:
Almost everyone knows an animal when they see it. But what exactly is an animal? Animals are one of the largest kingdoms of life. One thing that separates animals from many other organisms is that they are heterotrophs. What this means is that they get energy from things outside their own bodies. For example, most plants get their energy from the sun, however, animals eat other foods to get energy. If we look at cells in animals, we see something that makes them different from all other kingdoms of life. Animals don't have strong cell walls. All other organisms but animals have very strong cell walls. Also, animals have different types of tissues. Instead of just one general tissue, our bodies have multiple types such as muscles for lifting and moving stuff and nervous tissues for transmitting messages through our bodies. Those are the major things that make animals animals.
Animals:
Almost everyone knows an animal when they see it. But what exactly is an animal? Animals are one of the largest kingdoms of life. One thing that separates animals from many other organisms is that they are heterotrophs. What this means is that they get energy from things outside their own bodies. For example, most plants get their energy from the sun, however, animals eat other foods to get energy. If we look at cells in animals, we see something that makes them different from all other kingdoms of life. Animals don't have strong cell walls. All other organisms but animals have very strong cell walls. Also, animals have different types of tissues. Instead of just one general tissue, our bodies have multiple types such as muscles for lifting and moving stuff and nervous tissues for transmitting messages through our bodies. Those are the major things that make animals animals.
January 2, 2016
Kingdoms of Life:
What is a Kingdom of life? There are four main kingdoms, although there are two others that are counted. These kingdoms are: Animalia (Animals), Plantae (Plants), Fungi (Fungi), and Protista (Protists). However, there are two other ones that aren't usually considered kingdoms, as they are a larger group called domains, but they are worth mentioning. The other two are Archaea (Archaebacteria) and Bacteria (Bacteria). Each of these kingdoms has many species of organisms in them. Each kingdom has different characteristics, or features, that their species must have. For example, most plants get light from the sun but animals don't. Each article will talk about a different kingdom and what makes that kingdom that kingdom.
Kingdoms of Life:
What is a Kingdom of life? There are four main kingdoms, although there are two others that are counted. These kingdoms are: Animalia (Animals), Plantae (Plants), Fungi (Fungi), and Protista (Protists). However, there are two other ones that aren't usually considered kingdoms, as they are a larger group called domains, but they are worth mentioning. The other two are Archaea (Archaebacteria) and Bacteria (Bacteria). Each of these kingdoms has many species of organisms in them. Each kingdom has different characteristics, or features, that their species must have. For example, most plants get light from the sun but animals don't. Each article will talk about a different kingdom and what makes that kingdom that kingdom.
January 2, 2016
Intro:
Our planet has many different species of plants and animals. This month, we will be learning about the different kingdoms, or groups, of life and what makes those kingdoms those kingdoms. Enjoy!
Intro:
Our planet has many different species of plants and animals. This month, we will be learning about the different kingdoms, or groups, of life and what makes those kingdoms those kingdoms. Enjoy!