History and Evidence of Evolutionary Theory
Big idea: Evolutionary theory explains how populations change through time and is supported by converging evidence from fossils, anatomy, development, biogeography and molecular biology.
Learning goals
- fossil record
- homology
- biogeography
- molecular evidence
- scientific theory
Core concepts
fossil record
The ordered sequence of preserved remains and traces documents change, extinction and transitional forms through geological time.
homology
Similarity caused by shared ancestry, such as the same basic bone pattern in different vertebrate limbs.
biogeography
The geographic distribution of organisms reveals isolation, dispersal and common ancestry.
molecular evidence
Shared DNA and protein sequences allow scientists to test evolutionary relationships quantitatively.
scientific theory
A broad explanation repeatedly tested against evidence and capable of generating predictions.