What is a theory?
In science, a theory is a well-substantiated, unifying explanation for a set of verified, accepted hypotheses
Evolutionary theory is the understanding and application of the processes of evolutionary change to biological problems.
Applications:
• Study and treatment of diseases
• Development of crops and industrial processes
• Understanding the diversification of life
Evolutionary theory is the understanding and application of the processes of evolutionary change to biological problems.
Applications:
• Study and treatment of diseases
• Development of crops and industrial processes
• Understanding the diversification of life
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From the observations and insights made on the voyage and new ideas from geologists on the age of the Earth, Darwin developed an explanatory theory for evolutionary change:
• Species change over time • Divergent species share a common ancestor (descent with modification) • The mechanism that produces change is natural selection |
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Many of Darwin’s observations of variation and selection came from domesticated plants and animals.
Darwin bred pigeons and recognized similarities between selection by breeders and selection in nature. In both cases, selection simply increases the frequency of the favored trait from one generation to the next. |
The structure of DNA was established by 1953 by Watson and Crick.
In the 1970s, technology developed for sequencing long stretches of DNA and amino acid sequences in proteins.
Evolutionary biologists now study gene structure and evolutionary change using molecular techniques.
In the 1970s, technology developed for sequencing long stretches of DNA and amino acid sequences in proteins.
Evolutionary biologists now study gene structure and evolutionary change using molecular techniques.
