Scientific Evidence of Evolution and Biodiversity
Scientific Evidence of Evolution
Classic Evidence
- Morphological: The study of comparative anatomy allows us to understand the similarities and differences that the same organ presents in different species.
- Paleontology: Paleontology studies fossils, which allow us to know the ways that life forms existed in the past and study their evolutionary relationship with current life forms.
- Embryological: Embryology studies the early development of organisms. The principle of recapitulation states that the embryonic
Codominance, Genetic Traits, and Chromosomal Disorders
Codominance and Genetic Inheritance
Codominance
Codominance refers to the relationship between two alleles for the same gene, where both alleles are expressed in the phenotype. The characteristics determined by both codominant alleles appear as a mixture.
Dominance and Recessiveness
This describes the relationship between two alleles where the dominant allele expresses its information, while the recessive allele remains hidden. For the recessive trait to manifest, the individual must be homozygous
Read MoreAmphibians, Birds, Gastropods, Echinoderms, Plants: Adaptations
Amphibians
Amphibians have four limbs, moist, thin skin without coatings. Adults may or may not have tails; Urodeles have tails. They are poikilotherms. Adults breathe through lungs and skin, and larvae breathe through gills and are herbivores. They are oviparous with external fertilization and are the only vertebrates that undergo metamorphosis.
Birds
Birds have a streamlined body, four limbs, a body covered with feathers, hollow bones, and a horny beak. They are homeothermic, breathe through lungs
Read MoreHuman Digestion, Circulation, and Nutrition
Diet and Nutrition
Diet varies according to individuals, regions, days, and seasons of the year. A balanced diet allows the individual, according to their age and situation, to maintain good health. To create a balanced diet, we must take into account:
- A diet needs to provide the necessary calories and essential nutrients.
- Calories should come from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
- Animal proteins should not exceed 40% of the total protein intake.
- Intake of vegetable fats and bluefish should be more
Evolutionary Evidence: Fossils to DNA Analysis
Paleontological Evidence
- Fossils: Mineralized remains of organisms found in sedimentary rocks. They reveal past life forms and their evolutionary relationships to current species.
- Some fossils, like *Archaeopteryx* (a primitive bird with feathers and teeth), represent intermediate forms between major groups, linking birds and reptiles.
- Modern geological dating techniques determine the age of fossils.
Embryological Evidence
Embryology, the study of early organism development, reveals that embryos of different
Read MoreAnimal Nervous Systems: Evolution, Structure, and Function
Evolutionary Features of the Nervous System
As animals evolve, their nervous systems become increasingly complex, exhibiting several key characteristics:
- Increased number of nerve cells.
- Concentration of nerve cells, particularly at the anterior (head) end.
- Increased number of interconnections between nerve cells.
- Specialization of nerve cells to perform different functions.
Nervous Systems in Invertebrates
The complexity of an animal’s nervous system is closely related to its activity and lifestyle. Several
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