NGSS
Blastula
A hollow ball of cells of an animal embryo, it develops into a gastrula. Blastula. The blastula is an early stage in an embryo's development, where cells form a hollow sphere.
Cladistics
A biological classification system based on evolution from a shared ancestral line. Cladistics. Cladistics is a way to organize living things by looking at their shared ancestors and evolution patterns, like building a family tree of species.
Common ancestor
The most recent individual from which two or more species are descended. Common ancestor. A common ancestor is an ancient organism that gave rise to different species through evolution.
Fertilization
When a male reproductive cell sperm joins with a female reproductive cell egg, fertilization occurs. Fertilization is when a sperm and egg combine to start forming a new organism.
Homologous structure
A similar structure in different species, like a whale fin, bat wing, and your arm. Homologous structure. Homologous structures are body parts in different species that have the same basic layout but may serve different functions, showing common ancestry.
Vestigial structure
A structure that was useful to an ancestor but is no longer functional, like the appendix. Vestigial structure. A vestigial structure is a body part that has lost its original use over time because it is no longer needed for survival.
Zygote
The cell formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg is called a zygote. In simple terms, a zygote is the first cell of a new organism that forms when an egg and sperm join together.
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