Modern science has really helped us understand how evolution works. We now have clearer and more detailed evidence. There are three main areas that scientists focus on: molecular biology, comparative anatomy, and studying fossils.
DNA Sequencing: New technology for reading DNA lets scientists look at the genetic material of different species. For example, humans and chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA. This shows that we are closely related in our evolutionary history.
Genetic Markers: Scientists use special signs in our DNA, called genetic markers, to follow how species change over time. Research shows that even in the same species, there can be up to 1% difference in DNA, which affects traits and how animals adapt.
Phylogenetics: This is about making “family trees” that show how different species are related based on their genetic similarities and differences. One study looked at 1,800 gene sequences from many species. It found that sometimes, these gene similarities can show us paths of evolution that we can't see just from fossils.
Homologous Structures: By comparing body parts from different species, scientists find homologous structures. These are body parts that are similar because the species share a common ancestor. For instance, the arms of humans, the fins of whales, and the wings of bats have similar bone structures, showing we all come from the same ancestor.
Vestigial Structures: Some body features lose their original purpose over time, like the human appendix. About 60% of mammals have these vestigial structures. They provide clues about how species have evolved over time.
In conclusion, modern techniques in molecular biology, comparative anatomy, and fossil studies give scientists a lot of information that supports the theory of evolution. They show us how species have changed and adapted over millions of years.
Modern science has really helped us understand how evolution works. We now have clearer and more detailed evidence. There are three main areas that scientists focus on: molecular biology, comparative anatomy, and studying fossils.
DNA Sequencing: New technology for reading DNA lets scientists look at the genetic material of different species. For example, humans and chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA. This shows that we are closely related in our evolutionary history.
Genetic Markers: Scientists use special signs in our DNA, called genetic markers, to follow how species change over time. Research shows that even in the same species, there can be up to 1% difference in DNA, which affects traits and how animals adapt.
Phylogenetics: This is about making “family trees” that show how different species are related based on their genetic similarities and differences. One study looked at 1,800 gene sequences from many species. It found that sometimes, these gene similarities can show us paths of evolution that we can't see just from fossils.
Homologous Structures: By comparing body parts from different species, scientists find homologous structures. These are body parts that are similar because the species share a common ancestor. For instance, the arms of humans, the fins of whales, and the wings of bats have similar bone structures, showing we all come from the same ancestor.
Vestigial Structures: Some body features lose their original purpose over time, like the human appendix. About 60% of mammals have these vestigial structures. They provide clues about how species have evolved over time.
In conclusion, modern techniques in molecular biology, comparative anatomy, and fossil studies give scientists a lot of information that supports the theory of evolution. They show us how species have changed and adapted over millions of years.