Pieces of

Evidence for
Evolution
ANN RUBY A. BLANDO
Darwin’s theory of evolution was eventually recognized when
scientists were able to supply verifications that Darwin himself had
been unable to specify.

Natural selection gives us an outline for understanding the

ideologies of evolution. Darwin’s idea of evolution has been improved
by new evidence that has been gathered by modern scientists.

Moreover, still, modern scientists are at an interminable expansion

in collecting data and evidence that may verify or invalidate the
information about the evolution of life that we have now. These
pieces of evidence are significant in the field of biology.
Principles of Homology and Common Descent

Evolution can be viewed as a series of bifurcations in a

phylogenetic tree – all life can be traced back to a common
ancestor.

Groups of species that share a common ancestor derive

attributes from that ancestor through common descent.

Once related lineages are reproductively isolated, evolution

can lead to modifications of the basic plan.

Nevertheless, future evolutionary paths are constrained

by past history.
 Activity: Word Parts Directions:
Below are words that have been divided into halves. Find the
pieces that fit together and write them in your answer sheets.
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
A. Fossils

Fossils are preserved remnants of once-living organisms trapped in rocks, tar pits,
frozen in ice, or embedded in amber. The most common fossils are bones, shells, and seeds or
pollen grains. Most fossils are formed in sedimentary rock. Paleontologists (specialists in the
study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times), use the fossils found in rocks
to track the evolutionary history of many organisms.
Transition
al Forms in
the Fossil
Record:
Whales

From Gingerich et al. Science 2001

Finding Missing Links in the Fossil Record
Major Evolutionary
Transitions: The Tetrapod
Limb

Fig 4.22 Z&E

 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
Fossils
• By identifying the age of rocks in which fossils appear, we can
obtain an accurate idea of how old the fossils are.
• Geologists use Relative dating rocks were dated by their
position with respect to one another; rocks in deeper strata are
generally older.
• On the other hand, in absolute dating rocks are dated by
measuring the degree of decay of certain radioisotopes
contained in the rock; the older the rock, the more its isotopes
have decayed.
• Since radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate unchanged
by temperature or pressure, the isotopes in a rock act as an
internal clock, determining the time after the rock was formed.
• Hence, the records found in the rocks show a gradual
evolutionary descent from simpler to more complex life forms.
Furthermore, the fossil record provides a clear record of the
major evolutionary transitions that have occurred through
time.
By identifying the age of rocks in which fossils appear, we can obtain an
accurate idea of how old the fossils are.

Geologists use Relative dating rocks were dated by their position with
respect to one another; rocks in deeper strata are generally older.

On the other hand, in absolute dating rocks are dated by measuring the
degree of decay of certain radioisotopes contained in the rock; the older the
rock, the more its isotopes have decayed.

Since radioactive isotopes decay at a constant rate unchanged by

temperature or pressure, the isotopes in a rock act as an internal clock,
determining the time after the rock was formed.

Hence, the records found in the rocks show a gradual evolutionary descent
from simpler to more complex life forms.

Furthermore, the fossil record provides a clear record of the major

evolutionary transitions that have occurred through time.
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP

B. Embryology
• An embryo is an organism in its initial phases of development.
• While embryology is the study of the development of the anatomy of an organism to
its adult form also gives evidence of relatedness between now widely different
groups of organisms.
• Scientists observed that at some point during the development process, embryos of
many different animals appeared so similar that it was difficult to tell them apart.
• During development, at some time all vertebrates have a supporting dorsal rod,
called a notochord, and demonstrate paired pharyngeal pouches.
• This could indicate that an organism passes through some of the embryonic stages
that its ancestors passed through.
• Then numerous variations occur in ways appropriate to an organism’s final form.
COMMON DESCENT MAKES SENSE OF PUZZLING
PATTERNS IN NATURE
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
B. Embryology
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
C. Anatomical Evidence

In comparing the anatomy and the development of organisms, it shows a unity of plan among
those that are closely related. The more body structures that two species have in common, the
more closely they are related. It adopts the idea of “descent from a common ancestor”.

Similar structures in different species irrespective of their functions are called homologous
structures. Homology seems to indicate descent from common ancestor. The limb skeletons of
vertebrates are homologous structures.
EVIDENCE FOR EVOLUTION: HOMOLOGY OF THE
VERTEBRATE LIMB

▪ Comparative anatomy shows ▪ Similarity between species that is

that the same skeletal elements not functionally necessary.
appear in very different species.
This phenomenon only makes
sense as a process of descent
See Fig. 2.17 in Z&E
with modification.
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
Analogous structures are structures that are different in appearance but have the similar
functions. The analogy does not indicate common ancestry. Examples are the limbs of insects
and mammals, and the wings of butterflies and birds.
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
Vestigial structures seem like to give more evidence for evolutionary change. Vestigial
structures are anatomical features that are usually reduced and have no function in many
organisms. These are organs that were previously functional in the ancestors of the species but
are only remnants in the present-day species. For example, skeletal extremities discovered in
certain snakes have no known use to these animals. In humans, appendix is thought to have no
use, but in other mammals it aids in the digestion of cellulose.
Vestigial Organs: Snakes with legs Cohn & Tickle
Nature 1999
 Vestigial Genes: Blind Cave Fish

▪ Loss of complex eye structure as an adaptation to cave dwelling

▪ Transplant experiments from closely related fish show that the

genes for eye development are still present and fully
functional.
CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION
AND HOW TO INFER USING ITS
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP

D. Biochemical
Living organisms share numerous
related biochemical molecules, such as
DNA, ATP, amino acids, and enzymes.
This finding supports descent from a
common ancestor. The more closely
linked organisms are the more related
is their biochemical genetic makeup.
1. DNA/Nucleic acids Genes are
located in the chromosomes, which are
made of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid.
The more closely related two living
organisms are, the more similar the
sequence of their DNA molecules will
be.
 DNA
UNIVERSAL GENETIC MATERIAL
Evolution of the genetic code: “Universal” mRNA Code
1
3

2 7

6
CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION
AND HOW TO INFER USING ITS
EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP

2. Proteins
Proteins are molecules that are
used to build up and repair body
parts. Scientists believe that the
more similar the structure of
protein molecules of different
organisms is, the more related they
are and the more recent the
existence of their common ancestor.
Unrelated species have different
amino acids.
 CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION AND
HOW TO INFER USING ITS EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP
E. Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the
geographic distributions of organisms.
Darwin’s trip around South America
allowed him to observe the diversity of
organisms in different areas and the
resemblance of such species of birds and
tortoises in an island to the nearby
mainland. Darwin believed that the group
of organisms on each island is adapted to
a distinct way of life. The common
ancestors of these organisms had come
from one place, expanding out into other
accessible regions.