Evidence for Evolution

• who is Alfred Russel Wallace?

  • independently came up with theory of natural selection
  • published papers with Darwin
• how does fossil evidence (Paleontology) support theory of evolution/natural selection?

  • shows changes over time
  • past species are different from today
  • old species have died out
  • new species have arisen
  • new species are similar to those found in same place
• what is wrong with fossil evidence?

  • incomplete
  • only produced under certain conditions
  • only hard bits are fossilised
  • easily destroyed/damaged
  • difficult to find
• how does comparative biochemistry support theory of evolution/natural selection?

  • difference in DNA and RNA base sequence
  • molecular evidence - order of amino acids in proteins such as Cytochrome C or haemoglobin - similarities implies a close relationship and a more recent common ancestor
  • current evolution e.g. antibiotics or pesticide resistance
• what is convergent evolution?

  • two species coming up with the same solution to a problem e.g. flying
  • came from two different ancestors e.g. bats and birds but evolved to solve same problem