The four main categories of evidence for evolution in accordance to the BAT tutorials are: fossil records, chemical and anatomical similarities, geographic distribution of related species, and genetic changes over generations. Fossil records allow researchers to examine evolution through past species. One example is the Archaeopteryx, a million year old fossil found in southern Germany that had characteristics of both dinosaurs and birds. This fossil finding resulted as the discovery that birds had evolved from reptilian ancestors. Also, the similarities between body structures in vertebrates make for a distinct link leading to the conclusion that they must share a common ancestor or a similarity in how they came to be. Additionally, the geographic location of certain species determines their evolution patterns. In certain areas of the world, there are animals that are native to that land and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Lastly, a species genetic alter over time in order to survive. In the case of a drastic environmental change that results in death, those that survive do so because they possess traits that allow them to survive. These are the only ones that will be likely to reproduce. Selective breeding in dogs is an example genetic changes over evolution. In these cases, dog breeders mate different breeds of dogs together in order to achieve the desired traits they want in a new breed of dog. …show more content…
The finches illustrate this by their ability to adapt to the altering periods of wet and dry spells on the island they reside in. Finches also have beaks according to their available source of nutrition based on their
After watching the video on Finch evolution, and completing the gizmo, I have found many correlations between the finch population, and the climate of the Galapagos Islands. The Finches beak size was dependent on the climate, and natural selection. The population of the birds increased and decreased throughout the years because the extreme climate changes and the process of natural selection.
The experiment demonstrates the affect of precipitation levels to the beak size of finches on Darwin Island and Wallace Island. The levels of rainfall not only affect the beak sizes of the finches but also the population over time. The experiments were conducted over a period of three hundred years. The parameters remained constant over the three hundred year span to determine the effect of more or less precipitation on the food sources for the finches. The level of rainfall controls the types of seeds the birds eat. More rainfall creates smaller, softer seeds. Less
All of the finches studied in this experiment originated on the same island. On this island there was diversified food success, allowing natural selection to take place and create separate species to fill different niches on the island. When the natural disaster occurred the finches were forced to migrate to another island where the conditions were not as favorable. The finches that were once separated by clines and food sources are now competing for survival.
Direct observation is the final evidence for evolution. By observing a species in their natural habitat, you can see how they adapt. For example, the peppered moths. Originally they were white, with black and grey specks. As the industrial revolution began, the trees they laid on for protection, started to turn black. The moths then were being eaten by birds. The moths adapted to their environment, and slowly became black with grey specks.
The theory of evolution postulates that all life evolved from other preexisting life and the differences are attributable to changes from generation to generation (Ayala, 2005). Evidence supporting this theory comes from all branches of biology. Below is a list of five types of evidence supporting this theory.
The objections to evolution by many non-scientists are mostly made without any previous research or investigations. It is argued that Darwin’s theory of evolution by common descent with modification does not support all living things. However, this theory is supported by many observations. Through geographic distribution, fossil records, morphology, embryology, and genomic analysis, evolution can be traced back to a common ancestry of living things. The development of phylogenies, relationships among species, and homologies, structural similarities between species, provide even more evidence to support common ancestry.
There are multiple lines of evidence for evolution. How they contribute to the strength of scientific theories of natural and evolution fall under the multiple lines for evolution. There are two multiple lines of evidence that helps determine evolution. Physical Anthropologists and Paleobiologists. Physical Anthropologists study fossils and records their measurements and what species they belong to. Paleontologists study how plate tectonics and rocks determine how old and where did the fossil species came from. These two careers help evolution and expand more information into
Another piece of evidence supporting Darwin’s Theory of Evolution are analogous structures. These structures are found in species who have similar adaptations and functions but may not necessarily be closely related. An example of analogous structures are butterfly and bird wings. They may not be closely related but have evolved to adapt to their environment in similar ways, supporting Darwin’s theory by demonstrating how creatures have evolved to become more similar to one another because the common characteristic they share is vital to their
The theory of species varying globally is supported by the flightless birds found in South America, Africa, and Australia. The rheas, emus, and ostriches all have very
Evolution is the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of earth. The theory of evolution by natural selection, is talked about in Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, which is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits. Two very important scientists, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel built up the evolutionary thought laid by Lamarck; using their ecological knowledge and worldly experience, they slowly start to develop the theory of evolution. The evidence we have in biology today to prove the theory of evolution are: 1. Species share similarities that
Evolution is the process in which organisms descend from ancestors. Evolution is responsible for some of the various similarities seen through biological life, and it also explains all of the diversity in organisms and species. There are various components of evolution: descent, mutation, natural selection, genetic variation, genetic drift and coevolution. All of these components are extremely fundamental to evolution because Darwin's theory of evolution states that all species and organisms have arisen and developed due to material stemming from natural selection of petite inherited variations that can increase the ability for said organism to survive, reproduce, etc. This theory states that the changes that have occurred through mutation is beneficial, harmful, or neutral. If changes in an organisms DNA is harmful then the odds of that organism surviving/reproducing/ etc is unlikely. Some may think of this concept as survival of the fittest. Mutations tend to make the evolution process speed up which means that new genes are added to a species' gene pool. This is beneficial to an extent when it comes to organisms that have many dangerous genes and factors that can cause their offspring to mutate and continue to reproduce organisms with less than mutations. Those who are deemed
What made thing's the way they are today? How did we become the dominant species on this planet? For thousand's of years we have been trying to discover answers to questions like these. Scientists went hard at work to discover new things about the origins of our species. The theories of evolution theory in biology postulating that the various types of plants, animals, and other living things on Earth have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations.(Britannica) Understanding our origins can allow us to understand why the world around us is the way it is. According to Websters, Evolution is defined as
One evidence that can back up evolution is DNA Sequences. DNA Sequences can show the similarities that two different species share (genetic similarities: Wilson). You can look at DNA sequences from different animals to see if there is a common link between the two. DNA sequences play a very important role in evolution. It gives a large amount of evidence of evolution by showing that living species share something in common with the basic hereditary (evolution of DNA). With us being able to see that some species share a common link with an ancestor, we can pair them up with species that have the most common links together to the ones that only have a few links in common (evolution of DNA). Ever since we discovered DNA it has helped supported the theory of evolution, it also has helped scientist predict where evolution will happen in the future.
The fossil record is evidence of evolution. Fossils are often fingerprints of evolution. They help scientists track how species evolved
The theory of evolution explains how all of the living species on Earth came to exist as they do today. Credited to Charles Darwin, the theory of evolution states that all the living species of today – humans included – evolved over time; we can see evidence of their evolution in the fossils of now-extinct species. In his book Origin of Species, published in 1859, Darwin wrote that species evolve over time through a mechanism known as “natural selection.” Basically, each species is born with a multitude of traits, some more favorable to survival than others. Because some traits encourage survival more so than others, the animals equipped with those traits tend to breed more than the animals that lack those traits. Over time, more and more