- What is the theory of evolution? (YouTube, 2.59 min)
- What is evolution? from Stated Clearly (YouTube, 8.52 min)
“The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits.”
- What is natural selection? from Stated Clearly (YouTube, 9.19 min)
“Natural selection is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin, and it is now regarded as be the main process that brings about evolution.”
What is the evidence for evolution? from Stated Clearly (YouTube, 11.21min)
- Fossil evidence – organisms have changed over time and some have become extinct
- Comparative morphology (anatomy) – there are similarities between some organisms that suggest a common ancestor
- DNA evidence – Similar species have more genes in common than dissimilar species, suggesting a common ancestor; Chimpanzees and humans have 99% of their DNA in common
- Distribution of species (biogeography) shows that islands have unique species, due to an original inhabitant becoming adapted to its’ environment over many generations, by natural selection
- Similarities of embryos suggest that all vertebrates have a common ancestry
Tree of Life video HD with David Attenborough (YouTube, 6.29 min) – Complete the student worksheet – Highlighting important stages in evolution.