Evidence of Evolution Flashcards
What is the argument by design?
When adaptations are so complex it’s hard to imagine that a random process is responsible for them
Eg human eye
How is the fossil record evidence?
Started discovering intermediate organisms which filled in gaps - could work out rates of change
How is comparative bio evidence?
Adaption and change
Found things that didn’t make sense - whales once had pelvises suggesting they had legs proved true when look at evo history
How is island bio evidence?
Adaptive radiation - Darwin’s finches
How is biogeography evidence?
Used to be all one continent
But now different - different flora/fauna
Gradients of fauna change
How is redundancy evidence?
Designed to do specific jobs
Imperfect design - understanding this reveals it’s due to evolution - vagus nerve
How is serendipity evidence?
Pandas - bears with 5 specialised claws but evolved a thumb like appendage to break into bamboo
How is convergence evidence?
Vertebrate and invertebrate eyes
How is ontogeny evidence?
It recapitulates phylogeny
Has to grow through evolutionary stages - homebox genes
How is taxonomy evidence?
Phylogenetic trees
Diversity through generations
How is observation evidence?
We see evolution in action
How is molecular biology evidence?
Universal code - something evolved long ago and became fixed so things after have to change
Tree of life based on rRNA sequences
