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Understanding Evolution

Understanding Evolution

Your one-stop source for information on evolution

Understanding Evolution

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    • An introduction to evolution: what is evolution and how does it work?
      • 1_historyoflife_menu_iconThe history of life: looking at the patterns – Change over time and shared ancestors
      • 2_mechanisms_menu_iconMechanisms: the processes of evolution – Selection, mutation, migration, and more
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Home → Support systems

    Support systems

    Multi-celled animals must support their own bodies — otherwise, they would collapse into squishy piles of flesh. Evolution has solved this problem in several different ways:

    • An endoskeleton (endo = inside) is an internal skeleton, such as bones within the body.
    • An exoskeleton (exo = outside) is an external skeleton, such as a shell outside the body.
    • A hydrostatic skeleton (hydro = water) provides support with water pressure. Hydrostatic skeletons work like a rubber glove filled with water and sealed at the wrist — the water forces the fingers of the glove to stand up.

    different types of support systems

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