Evidence for Evolution: A Brief Review

Meskovich, Casey

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/130356 Copy

Description

Title

Evidence for Evolution: A Brief Review

Author(s)

Meskovich, Casey

Issue Date

2025-07-14

Keyword(s)

• undergraduate research
• double helix digest
• evolutionary theory

Date of Ingest

2025-11-14T17:14:07-06:00

Abstract

Evolutionary theory offers a unifying framework for understanding the diversity of life on Earth. Formalized by Charles Darwin as "descent with modification" through natural selection, the concept has since been supported by extensive evidence across multiple scientific disciplines. Paleontological records reveal transitional forms and chronological patterns of increasing complexity. Comparative anatomy highlights homologous structures that point to common ancestry, while embryology demonstrates shared developmental pathways among diverse species. Molecular biology confirms genetic relationships through DNA sequence comparisons, and biogeography illustrates the role of geographic isolation in speciation. Real-time evolutionary changes, such as the emergence of antibiotic resistance, provide observable instances of natural selection. Additionally, vestigial structures and pseudogenes offer insight into evolutionary history and inherited traits that have lost their original function. Collectively, these lines of evidence converge to substantiate evolution as a foundational principle in modern biology.

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Casey Meskovich

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