1. Evidence for Evolution

2. Evolution
The theory of evolution states that all organisms on Earth have descended from a common ancestor. 2

3. The Support for Evolution
The Fossil Record
Derived traits: are new evolved features, such as feathers, that do not appear in the fossils of common ancestors.
Ancestral traits: more primitive features, such teeth and tails, that do appear in ancestral forms. 3

4. The Support for Evolution
Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures:
Anatomically similar structures inherited from a common ancestor. 4

5. The Support for Evolution
Comparative Anatomy
Vestigial Structures:
Structures that are the reduced forms of functional structures in other organisms. 5

6. The Support for Evolution
Comparative Anatomy
Analogous Structures:
Structures that can be used for the same purpose and can be superficially similar in construction, but are not inherited from a common ancestor 6

7. The Support for Evolution
Comparative Embryology
Vertebrate embryos exhibit homologous structures during certain phases of development but become totally different structures in adult forms. 7

8. The Support for Evolution
Comparative Biochemistry
Evolutionary theory predicts that molecules in species with a recent common ancestor should share certain ancient amino acid sequences.
The more closely related the species are, the greater number of sequences will be shared. 8