Recent discoveries in genetics have supported and built on Darwin's ideas about evolution. Here are some important points to understand:
Genetic Variation: Changes in genes, called genetic mutations, happen in about 1 in 100 million pieces of DNA every generation. These changes create differences in populations, which helps natural selection work.
Common Ancestry: When scientists look at DNA, they find that humans share about 98.8% of their DNA with chimpanzees. This supports the idea that we share a common ancestor.
Molecular Evolution: Scientists use something called molecular clocks to estimate how long it has been since different species branched off from each other. This helps confirm the timelines of evolution that Darwin suggested.
Gene Flow and Speciation: Studies on hybrid animals show that when species mix and share genes, it can lead to the formation of new species. This process aligns with Darwin's ideas about how evolution works.
These findings help us understand how living things change over time and how they are all connected!
Recent discoveries in genetics have supported and built on Darwin's ideas about evolution. Here are some important points to understand:
Genetic Variation: Changes in genes, called genetic mutations, happen in about 1 in 100 million pieces of DNA every generation. These changes create differences in populations, which helps natural selection work.
Common Ancestry: When scientists look at DNA, they find that humans share about 98.8% of their DNA with chimpanzees. This supports the idea that we share a common ancestor.
Molecular Evolution: Scientists use something called molecular clocks to estimate how long it has been since different species branched off from each other. This helps confirm the timelines of evolution that Darwin suggested.
Gene Flow and Speciation: Studies on hybrid animals show that when species mix and share genes, it can lead to the formation of new species. This process aligns with Darwin's ideas about how evolution works.
These findings help us understand how living things change over time and how they are all connected!