Evolution

• Theory of Evolution helps us understand how life diversified into different forms we see now and in the fossil record
• Evolution is defined as any change in heritable traits within a population across generations
• All healthy living things are capable of reproduction by duplicating DNA and passing it on to future generations
• DNA is a chain-like chemical stored in cells, containing coded information on how to build and function
• DNA mutations can occur during reproduction, leading to variations in body shape and function
• Evolution occurs when there are changes in heritable traits within a population across generations
• Reproduction for dolphins, badgers, and humans involves combining DNA from both parents to create offspring with a unique combination of traits
• Evolution can lead to the development of new traits due to DNA mutations, which can be passed on to offspring
• Observable evidence from various fields suggests that all living things share a common ancestor and are related
• Natural selection is a force that guides random evolution to produce order and complex function
• Biological evolution is any change in heritable traits within a population across generations
• Small variations in traits can accumulate over generations to create significant differences in body form and function
• All life on earth is related, and evidence overwhelmingly supports this concept
• Natural selection is one of several key concepts contained within the theory of evolution
• Descent with Modification is the observable fact that offspring look and behave slightly different than their parents and each other
• Common Descent is the idea that all life on Earth is related and descended from a common ancestor
• Differences found in offspring are partially due to random genetic mutations
• Common Descent is a conclusion based on a massive collection of observable facts found in the study of fossils, genetics, comparative anatomy, mathematics, biochemistry, and species distribution
• Charles Darwin was a naturalist who traveled the world collecting plants and animals and became interested in the idea of common descent
• Darwin observed unique species on islands that were similar to creatures on nearby continents, leading him to believe in Common Descent
• Darwin proposed that nature is capable of selection through the process of Natural Selection
• Natural Selection is the process by which random evolutionary changes are selected for by nature in a consistent, orderly, non-random way
• Through Natural Selection, positive changes add up over multiple generations, while negative traits are quickly discarded