n ec a ti

evidence for
evolution
NUR, SUEDA, KADRİYE ZEHRA BUDULGAN

Da r win
 Evolution in Summary
Evoluation occurs when heritable characteristics of a species change.

Evolution is the scientific understanding of species'

characteristics changing over time. It is crucial to distinguish
between inherited traits, which are passed from parents to their
children, and acquired characteristics, which are developed
throughout an individual's lifetime. Evolution only concerns
heritable characteristics.

So, the evolution mechanism is natural selection. Despite ample

evidence, disbelief persists, particularly among certain religious
groups. While objections exist regarding species evolution, the
focus should be on examining the evidence supporting evolution.
 EVIDENCE FROM FOSSILS
The fossil record provides evidence for evolution.

In the 19th century, the sequence of rock layers and then geological
eras were identified. Fossil research, particularly in paleontology,
revealed distinct fossil sequences in these layers. In the 20th century,
radioisotope dating provided accurate ages for both rocks and fossils,
offering compelling evidence for the occurrence of evolution.

The sequence in which fossils appear matches the sequence in

which they would be expected to evolve, with bacteria and
simple algae appearing first, fungi and worms later and land
vertebrates later still.
The sequence also fits in with the ecology of the groups. The
sequence also fits in with the ecology of the groups, with plant
fossils appearing before the animal, plants on land before animals
on land, and plants suitable for insect pollination before insect
pollinators.

Many sequences of fossils are known, which link together existing

organisms with their likely ancestors. For example, horses are most
closely related to rhinoceroses and tapirs.
 EVIDENCE FROM SELECTIVE BREEDING
Selective breeding of domesticated animals shows that artificial selection can cause evolution.

For millennia, humans selectively bred and

utilized animal species. Comparing modern
livestock breeds to wild species reveals
substantial differences. For instance, contrast
modern egg-laying hens with Southern Asian
jungle fowl. Various breeds of sheep, cattle,
and other domesticated livestock exhibit
significant inter-breed variations.
 Domesticated breeds have not always been existed in their current form. The best explanation
for this is the process called artificial selection which means the change has been achieved simply
by repeatedly selecting for and breeding the individuals most suited to human uses.

Artificial selection demonstrates rapid changes in domesticated animals, highlighting the

potential for evolution through selection. However, it doesn't prove natural species evolution or
the mechanism of natural selection.
 evidence from homologous structures
Evolution of homologous structures by adaptive radiation explains similarities in structure when there are
differences in function.

Darwin has stated in “The Origin of Species” that some similarities in

structure between organisms are superficial.
The homologous structures are like the homologous pairs of
chromosomes, they may look the same by physical properties but they
perform different functions.

Evolutionary explanation for adaptive radiation is that, the organisms

have had the same origin (from an ancestor) and that they have
become different because they function differently .

There are many examples that show the homologous structure however they
do not prove that organisms have evolved or had common ancestry and do not
reveal anything about the mechanism of evolution (just supporting
information).
PENTADACTYL LIMBS
The pattern of bones or a modification of it is present in all amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals, whatever the function of their limbs.

Each one of the four vertebrates has pentadactyl limbs, which is common in all four of
these vertebrates.

crocodiles walk or crawl on land and use their webbed hind limbs for swimming

penguins use their hind limbs for walking and their forelimbs as flippers for
swimming

echidnas use all four limbs for walking and also use their forelimbs for digging

frogs use al four limbs for walking and their hindlimbs for jumping.
 SPECIATION
Speciation occurs when a group within a species separates from
other members of its species and develops its own unique
characteristics.
If two separated populations of species do not interbreed,
then natural selection acts differently on the two
populations and evolution occurs.

The characteristics of the two populations will gradually

diverge meaning that they will start to differ progressively
until a time that they are recognizably different.
 SPECIATION
The main idea is a population becomes isolated over a long
period of time and the isolated groups will become two
separate species that originated from a common ancestor.

Speciation often occurs after a population of species extends

its range by migrating to an island. This explains the endemic
species on islands.
An endemic species is one that is found only in a certain
geographical area.
 EVIDENCES FROM
PATTERNS OF VARIATION
Continuous variation across the geographical range of
related populations supports the concept of gradual
divergence .

Populations diverge gradually over time to become

separate species, that’s why we find examples of all
stages of divergence in nature. Darwin describes this
situation in his book, The Origin of Species.

He gave examples of populations are recognizably

different but not clearly separate species. One of his
examples is the red grouse of Britain and the willow
ptarmigan of Norway.
 EVIDENCES FROM
PATTERNS OF VARIATION
The continuous range in variation between populations does
not match either the belief that species were created as
distinct types of organism and therefore should be constant
across their geographic range or that species are unchanging.
Instead it provides evidence for the evolution of species and
the origin of new species by evolution.

INDUSTRIAL
MELANISM
Dark varieties of typically light-colored
insects are called melanistic. The famous
example is peppered moth which scientific
name’s is Biston betularia. The industrial
melanism with this example can be
explained in several steps:
Adult peppered moths fly at night to reproduce.
During the day, they roost on the branches of trees.
Before industrial revolution, peppered moths were
camouflaged against predators in tree branches (in
unpolluted areas) which are covered in pale-covered
lichens.
With industrial revolution, Sulphur dioxide emission
has increased. SO2 pollution kills lichens and soot
from burning coal blackens trees.
Melanic moths are better camouflaged in dark tree
branches in the polluted areas.
In polluted areas the melanic variety of Biston
betularia replaced the peppered variety over a
relatively short time, but not in nonpolluted areas.
Biologists used this as a classic example of natural
selection. They proved that the favored species
become dominant over time and this serves as a
great example to evolution.
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