What do modern biologists describe as the descent with modification from a common ancestor?
Patterns in the distribution of living and fossil species tell us how modern organisms evolved from their ancestors. Evolutionary theory explains the existence of homologous structures adapted to different purposes as the result of descent with modification from a common ancestor.
Is descent with modification natural selection?
Descent modification includes variations and mutations in the genes of offspring. When you consider genetic descent modification, you make natural selection relevant. When natural selection and genetic descent modification work together, the result is evolution.
What is direct evidence of evolution?
The theory of evolution states that all life has a common ancestry. The direct proof of evolution would be knowledge of lines of descent, that is, actual specimens showing gradual transition from form to form. Fossils provide such evidence. The fossil record shows that birds were evolved from reptiles.
What is the weakest piece of evidence for evolution?
Illogical Geology The Weakest Point in the Evolution Theory.
Has theory of evolution been proven?
Ernst Mayr observed, “The basic theory of evolution has been confirmed so completely that most modern biologists consider evolution simply a fact.
Is Embryology evidence of evolution?
Embryology is important to understanding a species’ evolution, since some homologous structures can be seen only in embryo development. For example, all vertebrate embryos, from humans to chickens to fish, have a tail during early development, even if that tail does not appear in the fully developed organism.
How is the theory of evolution supported by evidence?
How do scientists support theories? Fossil evidence supports evolution. You have read that Darwin collected many specimens of fossils on his trip. These specimens provided evidence that species existing in the past were very similar to species living during Darwin’s time.
Do humans and humpback whales share a close evolutionary relationship?
This can be explained by the fact that whales share a more recent common ancestry with humans (Figure 4) than they do with sharks. We predict that their closer relationship means that they share more features in common, and the evidence supports this prediction.
Why do bird embryos have gill slits?
embryonic development …and other nonaquatic vertebrates exhibit gill slits even though they never breathe through gills. These slits are found in the embryos of all vertebrates because they share as common ancestors the fish in which these structures first evolved.
Do humans have gill slits in the womb?
For example, fish embryos and human embryos both have gill slits. In fish they develop into gills, but in humans they disappear before birth.
Do human embryos have a tail?
Human embryos normally have a prenatal tail that measures about one-sixth of the size of the embryo itself. At between 4 and 5 weeks of age, the normal human embryo has 10–12 developing tail vertebrae.
Do we think Archaeopteryx could fly?
The famous winged dinosaur Archaeopteryx was capable of flying, according to a new study. After scanning Archaeopteryx fossils in a particle accelerator known as a synchrotron, researchers found its wing bones matched modern birds that flap their wings to fly short distances or in bursts.
What piece of evidence suggests Archaeopteryx could fly?
Archaeopteryx had well-developed wings, and the structure and arrangement of its wing feathers—similar to that of most living birds—indicate that it could fly.
Did any dinosaurs fly?
Just like the swimming ones, flying dinosaurs were not dinosaurs and were just related to them. They were called Flying Reptiles. The most common type was the Pterosaurs. The flying dinosaurs were a lot like birds- they had beaks and hollow bones.
Are flying dinosaurs still alive?
North Carolina is considered by many cryptozoologists to be one of America’s 7 pterosaur ‘hot spot’ states; Matt Cartmill, professor emeritus of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, said that it’s not impossible for there to be living pterosaurs today, but it is highly unlikely.