Proof_of_Evolution

Evolution is the theory that states that organisms evolve from one another. There have been many explanations as to how evolution occurs; however the most sensible one would be Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. This means that the animals fit for survival live and reproduce while the unfitting animals die out. Natural selection and evolution have a great amount of evidence. The human anatomy is very similar to that of other organisms. Similar structures can be identified in humans, monkeys, penguins, dogs, birds, and even whales. Fossils are another proof of evolution. They can show us when, where, and how certain organisms live. Molecular Biology is another supporting subject of evolution. It compares nucleic acid and protein characteristics among organisms. Three major proofs of evolution are Anatomy, Paleontology, and Molecular biology. Anatomical similarities in organisms may show evidence of a common ancestor; however this is not always the case. Birds, bats, and insects all have wings, but they all evolved independently of one another. Dolphins and whales also look similar, but these creatures are also unrelated. These misleading structures are known as analogous traits. Homologous traits, on the other hand, are similar structures that have been inherited by a common ancestor. These structures, however, do not necessarily have the same function. For example, humans, whales, chimpanzees, and several other vertebrates have homologous structures. These structures are more useful when looking for links in certain organisms. Some traits were once useful to pre-evolved organisms but at one point, became useless. These are called vestigial structures. Some current vestigial structures in humans include the tailbone, the appendix, the pinky toe, male nipples, and ear muscles. Homologous, analogous, and vestigial structures all explain how we evolved. Fossils have made a huge impact on our understanding of evolution. They allow us to find when certain species existed. This is important because if we didn’t know when these organisms existed, we wouldn’t be able to put the pieces together. They are responsible for the discovery of extinct animals such as dinosaurs and prehistoric fish. Scientists use two main methods of dating fossils. The first is called superposition. This is the geologic law that states that as layers of rock gets lower, the older the rock is. As the layers move upward, the younger the rock is. This process is useful for quick information, however it isn’t very specific. It also isn’t accurate with rocks that have been disturbed by organisms. A more accurate method of fossil dating is radiometric dating. It measures the age of the molecules by using half-lives. In a half-life, half of the molecule’s matter is lost every certain amount of time. Scientists can use this to find the precise age of fossils. Fossils have also played a role in finding missing links in evolution. For example, in the mid 1970s, scientists found a Neanderthal fossil in Africa that made a breaking point in evolution. This pre-human organism was named Lucy. With Lucy, scientists found more and more similarities, chemically and anatomically. There are many other Neanderthals that have been found, such as Ida, Homo Habilis, and Andreus. Molecular biology has revolutionized our thinking about living organisms. In the process, scientists have compelled us to rethink certain questions which have recently been brought up. There is now a clear connection between molecular biology and evolutionary biology which closely relates the connection that has emerged over the last 20 years. For example, fossil changes based on DNA sequencing are used to work out evolutionary trees. Knowledge of important particles and their interactions is used to work out the early history of the universe. Scientists are able to compare amino acids of different organisms to fin how closely they are related. Nucleotides such as DNA are also used in this process. Molecular biology has allowed us to travel very far in our understanding of evolution. Mankind has learned so much about the origin of species. In contrast to a religious view on the creation of life, many people are turning to science for answers. Although evolution has some holes in it, scientists hope to find enough evidence to prove evolution. So far, we have managed to use bodily structures, ancient remains, and molecular evidence to find proof. There is so much proof of evolution it is hard not to believe the theory. Three major proofs of evolution are Anatomy, Paleontology, and Molecular Biology.