Evolution is an idea that has been toyed with by many other scientists for centuries, but is generally considered to be the “unifying theme” and the “binding force of all biological research” (Evolution: Theory and Science). Georges Cuvier and Jean-Baptiste Lemarck both had theories that kind of headed towards evolution, but they simply had pieces of the whole picture. The writings and theories of these two naturalists and others are what inspired Darwin on his travels. All this along with his own studies on artificial selection led Darwin to develop the idea of natural selection and thus the Theory of Evolution.
Natural Selection is Darwin’s theory that nature acts as a selector of plants and animals that have traits that could ensure the …show more content…
Homologous structures are physical parts that have a similar composition throughout many animals, especially vertebrates. Take the “forearms” of humans, cats, whales and bats for example. Each one has a humerus, radius, ulna, carpals and phalanges, but the structure serves a different purpose for each animal (Evidence of Evolution). Vestigial structures are physical components that are either useless or do not serve the same use as they once did. Vestigial structures do not have to be nonfunctional in order to be considered vestigial; they may “retain lesser functions or develop minor new ones, but nevertheless be in a degenerated state” (Evidence of Evolution). Whales and other cetaceans “still possess a vestigial pelvis, and some have greatly reduced and nonfunctional hindlimbs” (Sutera). A transitional fossil must also be located at the right point in time between two groups of animals. Numerous transitional fossils have been found that trace the lineage of all kinds of animals and while the fossil record is incomplete it provides sufficient evidence of evolution that occurred in the past. In The Origin of Whales and the Power of Independent Evidence, Sutera presents an abundance of evidence supporting the theory that whales are mammals descended from a terrestrial ancestor, including biogeographic and molecular …show more content…
When all the continents on Earth were one supercontinent called Pangaea, all land species were able to roam freely. As the continents began to drift apart, individuals of the same species were separated and as the climates of the lands changed those species adapted and evolved into new, separate species. Some ancestors of modern whales were restricted geographically because they still needed to be close to land while others were better adapted to the open ocean and their fossils have been found all over the world (Sutera). This also provides evidence of evolution for species that are bound geographically. According to David O’Neill, islands like Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii have “unique biotic environments” and that life has been “evolving in isolation from the rest of the world for millions of years” (O'Neill). It is like having a small laboratory in which to observe how evolution and natural selection work, the variables are limited and it is easier to observe the timeline of
Natural Selection is Darwin’s theory that nature acts as a selector of plants and animals that have traits that could ensure the …show more content…
Homologous structures are physical parts that have a similar composition throughout many animals, especially vertebrates. Take the “forearms” of humans, cats, whales and bats for example. Each one has a humerus, radius, ulna, carpals and phalanges, but the structure serves a different purpose for each animal (Evidence of Evolution). Vestigial structures are physical components that are either useless or do not serve the same use as they once did. Vestigial structures do not have to be nonfunctional in order to be considered vestigial; they may “retain lesser functions or develop minor new ones, but nevertheless be in a degenerated state” (Evidence of Evolution). Whales and other cetaceans “still possess a vestigial pelvis, and some have greatly reduced and nonfunctional hindlimbs” (Sutera). A transitional fossil must also be located at the right point in time between two groups of animals. Numerous transitional fossils have been found that trace the lineage of all kinds of animals and while the fossil record is incomplete it provides sufficient evidence of evolution that occurred in the past. In The Origin of Whales and the Power of Independent Evidence, Sutera presents an abundance of evidence supporting the theory that whales are mammals descended from a terrestrial ancestor, including biogeographic and molecular …show more content…
When all the continents on Earth were one supercontinent called Pangaea, all land species were able to roam freely. As the continents began to drift apart, individuals of the same species were separated and as the climates of the lands changed those species adapted and evolved into new, separate species. Some ancestors of modern whales were restricted geographically because they still needed to be close to land while others were better adapted to the open ocean and their fossils have been found all over the world (Sutera). This also provides evidence of evolution for species that are bound geographically. According to David O’Neill, islands like Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii have “unique biotic environments” and that life has been “evolving in isolation from the rest of the world for millions of years” (O'Neill). It is like having a small laboratory in which to observe how evolution and natural selection work, the variables are limited and it is easier to observe the timeline of