The theory of evolution is supported with the following evidence 1. Fossil record- using relative dating and carbon-14 dating to determine age of extinct and extant groups of organisms. 2. Biogeography- comparing differences in groups of organisms in line with the migration of continents and other changes in geography 3. Comparative Anatomy- looking at common anatomical structures (homologous or vestigial features) 4. Comparative Embryology- looking at common tissue development 5. Molecular Biology- comparing the DNA and protein sequencing of extant organisms and determining the accumulation of mutations since they shared a common ancestor (phylogeny- an evolutionary tree)

Systematics:  discipline that focuses on classifying organisms and their evolutionary relationships.  Its tools include fossils, morphology, genes, and molecular evidence. Systematics is currently modifying the work of Linnaeus’s classification system Taxonomy is an ordered division of organisms into categories based on a set of characteristics used to assess similarities and differences.

A graphic representation of an organism’s phylogeny, or evolutionary history

 Primitive characteristics are at the base of a cladogram and may include outgroups (unrelated members of a phylogeny ie. Algae and Plants)  Shared derived charactersitics are shared with every organism that branches after that point  Derived characteristics are more specific and only pertain to those on that specific branch ex.Chloroplast is a primitive characteristic of plants, vascular tissue is a shared derived, while the flower is derived only for the angiosperms