Evidence of the Evolutionary Theory

Types of Evidence for Darwin’s Theory Fossil Anatomical Embryological Biochemical

1. Fossil Evidence Based on the position of the fossil in the dirt column, we can determine which organism existed first on Earth and which organisms came later This fish fossil was found in Kansas!

2. Anatomical Evidence Homologous Structures Analogous Structures Vestigial Structures

Homologous structures Features with a common evolutionary origin but may have a different function

Analogous structures Structures that have similar functions but different evolutionary origin

Vestigial structure Structures found in a present-day organism that no longer serves its original purpose.

3. Embryological Features in young embryos suggest evolution from a distant, common ancestor

4. Biochemistry DNA evidence (genetics) – organisms that are biochemically similar have fewer differences in their DNA share a common ancestry.