Evidence Of Evolution Quick Check

The theory of evolution was and continues to be a highly controversial topic because it challenges so many spiritual beliefs. We will review the definition of evolution, then hash out different lines of bear witness supporting the theory of evolution. We will also discuss what fossils and archaeological evidence tell us about human evolution.

Recap: What is development?

Evolution is a gradual and cumulative change in the heritable traits of a population of organisms.

It is mainly driven by natural selection, a process where individuals with traits that help them survive in their environment are able to reproduce more because of those traits. This change takes place over the course of many generations.

Examples of evidence of evolution

The theory of development is supported by a wide range of evidence including fossils, homology, molecular biology, biogeography, and straight observations. In this section, we will hash out each line of evidence and provide examples.

Fossils as testify of evolution

F ossils are preserved remnants or traces of organisms from a past geologic historic period. Fossils provide evidence that life forms have inverse over time and resulted in the diversity in life forms that nosotros see today. Fossils testify how organisms evolved, how new groups of organisms emerged, and how some species became extinct (Fig. 1).

Evidence of Evolution, great white shark evolved using transitional fossils, StudySmarter

Figure i. This diagram shows how the great white shark evolved using transitional fossils. Source: Diagram is ain work of uploader. Derived epitome authors from left to right: SaberrexStrongheart (CC-By-SA) Meghunter99 (Public domain) Meghunter99 (Public domain) Meghunter99 (Public domain) Meghunter99 (Public domain), CC By-SA, via Wikimedia Eatables.

Fossils show patterns in the changes caused by evolution in different groups of organisms. For example, the pelvic bone in fossil stickleback fish consistently became smaller over time. The consistent shrinking of the pelvic bone is a design that suggests natural pick was the driving force behind the change.

Fossils also show how new groups of organisms emerge. For example, fossils provide bear witness that cetaceans (an order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises) evolved from terrestrial mammals like hippopotamuses, pigs, and cows (Figs. ii-three). This is because fossils show that the pelvis and hind limb basic of extinct cetacean ancestors became smaller over time, eventually disappearing completely and developing into flukes and flippers.

Evidence of Evolution, Hippopotamus, StudySmarter

Evidence of Evolution, Whale, StudySmarter

Figures 2-three. Fossils show that the hippopotamus (left) is the closest living relative of the whale (correct). Source (left): Diego Delso, CC Past-SA iv.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source (correct): Gabriel Barathieu, CC By-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Homology as show of evolution

Similarities in the structure or development of different life forms (known every bit homology) also provide bear witness of evolution because these show:

How different species with similar structures can be traced back to common ancestors (divergent evolution)
How different species with similar structures but no recent mutual ancestors were subjected to common selection pressures (convergent evolution)

Divergent evolution is the type of development where a species changes over time and branches off into new distinct species.

Species that share a contempo common antecedent can accept homologous structures: similar structures shared by closely related species. Homologous structures appear similar but serve unlike functions (Fig. 4).

For example, vertebrates like pigs, birds, and whales have forelimbs with the same basic limerick that came from a common ancestor. Their forelimbs changed over time to serve different purposes that arrange their present environs.

Evidence of Evolution, the relationship of bones in the forelimbs of humans dogs birds and whales, StudySmarter

Figure 4. This diagram shows the relationship of basic in the forelimbs of humans, dogs, birds, and whales. Source: Волков Владислав Петрович, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

On the other hand, species that are non closely related have besides evolved with similar physical characteristics due to common pick pressures. This process is chosen convergent evolution. For example, birds, bats, and pterodactyls all have wings that can exist used for flight even though they are not closely related (Fig. 5).

Evidence of Evolution, wings of birds bats and pterodactyl, StudySmarter

Effigy 5. Birds, bats, and pterodactyl have similar structures with the same part--they accept wings that they apply to fly--merely are non closely related. Source: John Romanes (1848-1894), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Molecular biology every bit evidence of evolution

All life forms share the same genetic cloth. From bacteria to humans, all life forms have DNA, as well as its mechanism for replication and expression (Figs. 6-7). This suggests that all species came from a very distant common ancestor.

Evidence of Evolution, Bacteria, StudySmarter

Evidence of Evolution, old man, StudySmarter

Figure vi-vii. Leaner (left) and humans (correct) take Dna every bit their genetic material. Source (left): Marking Ameliorate - NOAA Photo Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Source (right): Reinhold Möller, CC By-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Biogeography equally prove of development

We tin also observe patterns in the geographic distribution of life forms on Globe (a branch of biology chosen biogeography). These patterns can exist explained past development aslope the move of tectonic plates.

For example, members of the constitute family Proteaceae are found in Australia, southern Africa, and South America, which are all afar from each other. The presence of Proteaceae in these areas can exist explained past their descent from a common ancestor that existed in the supercontinent Gondwana before information technology broke up into dissimilar landmasses (Fig. 8).

Evidence of Evolution, illustration depicting continents Laurasia-Gondwana, StudySmarter

Figure 8. An illustration depicting continents Laurasia-Gondwana dating back to 200 million years agone. Source: Lennart Kudling, CC BY three.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Development can also explain why islands tend to have many endemic plant and animal species. Owned species are native to a specific geographical area and practise not occur naturally elsewhere. Darwin proposed that species from the nearest mainland colonized islands and eventually evolved into new species as they conform to their environments. The finches on the Galapagos Islands are an example of this.

Direct observations as show of evolution

Evidence of development tin can also be observed directly in species with fast reproductive cycles, such every bit leaner.

For example, when bacteria are exposed to antibiotics, individuals with no resistance speedily dice off. Individuals with resistance to the antibiotic are able to survive and reproduce. Then, resistant traits are passed on to more than individuals in the population. Eventually, the population becomes more than resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Evolution by natural option can also be observed in species that evolve as a response to introduced species in their environment. An example of this is the different beak lengths of the soapberry bug which evolved according to the available food source. In Southern Florida, soapberry bugs feed on the seeds of the native balloon vine. In Central Florida, balloon vines (Fig. ix) have go rare, so soapberry bugs shifted to the seeds of the golden rain tree (Fig. x)–an introduced species—equally their food source.

Evidence of Evolution, seeds of the balloon vine fruit, StudySmarter

Evidence of Evolution, seeds of the golden rain tree fruit, StudySmarter

Figures 9-x. The seeds of the balloon vine fruit are further from the surface than the seeds of the golden rain tree fruit (right). Source (left): H. Zell, CC By-SA three.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Source (right): Art Davis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Soapberry bugs tin feed more finer when their nib is long enough to reach the seeds inside a fruit. Because seeds of the gilt rain tree fruit are closer to the surface than the seeds of the balloon vine, soapberry bugs that feed on the seeds of the golden rain tree accept shorter beaks. In Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Australia, soapberry bug populations feed on introduced plants that have fruits larger than those of the balloon vine. In these areas, soapberry bugs evolved to have longer beaks.

Is there evidence of human development?

Humans are Man sapiens, a primate species that walks upright and has a large, complex brain with a capacity for the utilize of tools, language, symbolic expression, and culture. Fossilized bones revealed the physical advent of early humans and how they changed over fourth dimension. On the other hand, tools, pottery, jewelry, and other archaeological show show the activities of early humans.

Prove shows that humans first emerged in Africa. Bipedalism in humans evolved over 4 meg years ago, while other traits like the use of tools and symbolic expression emerged only tens of thousands of years ago.

Homo sapiens is the last living species of the zoological tribe Hominini. Fossils show that our species in one case existed aslope another species of Homo, the Neanderthals (Fig. 11). Fossils and genetics likewise evidence that we and other species of Homo are closely related to and share a mutual ancestor with other Great Apes, like chimpanzees and gorillas.

Evidence of Evolution, neanderthal man, StudySmarter

Figure 11. Using fossils and archaeological bear witness, nosotros are able to reconstruct what a Neanderthal human could take looked like. Source: Jakub Hałun, CC Past-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Eatables.

Prove of Evolution - Key takeaways

The theory of evolution is supported by a wide range of evidence including fossils, homology, molecular biology, biogeography, and direct observations.
- Fossils show how organisms evolved, how new groups of organisms emerged, and how some species became extinct.
- Homology shows how different species with like structures tin can exist traced back to mutual ancestors and how different species with similar structures just no contempo mutual ancestors were subjected to common selection pressures.
- All life forms have Deoxyribonucleic acid which suggests that all species came from a very distant common ancestor.
- Some patterns in the geographic distribution of life forms can be explained by evolution aslope the motility of tectonic plates.
- Evidence of development tin can exist observed directly in species with fast reproductive cycles and in species that evolve every bit a response to introduced species in their environment.
Fossilized bones and archaeological evidence give us insight into homo development.