Processes of Evolution

What is Evolution??

• Change of gene pool of population over time.
• Gene is a heredity unit that can be passed on unaltered for many generation.
• Gene pool is a set of all genes in a population.

Evolutionary Theories

• Widely used to interpret the past and present and even to predict the future.
• Reveal connections between the geological record, fossil record, and organismal diversity.

Cofounding Evidence:

1. Biogeography

• Size of the known world expanded enourmously in the 15th century.
• Discovery of new organisms on previously unknown places could not be explained by accepted beliefs.

   2. Comperative Anatomy

• Study of similarities and differences on body plans of major groups.
• Puzzling patterns:

        ~ Animals as different, as whales and bats have similar bones in their
           forelimbs.
        ~ Some parts also seem to have no function.


    3. Geological Discoveries

• Similar rock layers throughout world.
• Certain layers contain fossils.
• Deeper layers contain simpler fossils.
• Shallow layers contain complex fossils.
• Some fossils seem to be related to known species.