Anatomy is a useful tool in gaining evidence for evolution. The most useful thing is to examine homologous structures, ie anatomical similarities between different species.
The best example of this is the pentadactyl limb. It is found in humans, dolphins and bats. This shows that at some point in the past there must have been a common ancestor from which these 3 diverse groups of animals evolved.
Slight anatomical changes over significant amounts of time resulting in new species and adaptations is precisely what evolution is. Having a knowledge of certain anatomies allows for comparison. Take orangutan anatomy for example. It is extremely similar to human anatomy, but there are certain differences that tell us that humans are not descendants from orangutans. Also, the fossil record on which evolution evidence is so well based, relies largely on classifying anatomical characteristics.
It doesn't. Evolution is explained by population genetics, evolutionary theory.
The comparisons between the anatomies of various organisms show common ancestry which supports evolution.
Comparative anatomy and evolutionary development have shown the connection between species; both the near and far connections. Look at the bones in your arm and then at the foreleg bones of your cat or dog and see how evolutionarily close the both of you are. The HOX genes between you and fruit flies, the control genes for making bodies, show that you and flies share common ancestry as suggested by evolution.
The appendix serves no essential purpose in human anatomy. It could therefore easily be argued to be an evolutionary remnant of some earlier form that did have an essential function.However, arguments based on function are, at least to my mind, spurious at best. Much more significant are observations about the shapes of organs.
Indirect Evidence of Evolution - is looking for signs of the results of evolution. - is evidence that can be used to deduce what you are trying to understand.
The fossil record, computational genomics, vestigial genes/structures, biogeographical distribution of species, comparative anatomy, and direct observation
Fossils can be used as evidence for evolution because they can show the development of a species over a long period of time.
The fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular genetic and molecular cell Biology, genetics, evolutionary development and evolutionary biology to name several disciplines with evidence for evolution and it's processes. Go here. talkorigins.org
Paleontology, genetics, molecular Biology, taxonomy, evolutionary development and comparative anatomy, just to name a few.
Paleontology, genetics, molecular biology, taxonomy, evolutionary development and comparative anatomy, just to name a few.
The fossil record, comparative anatomy, molecular genetic and molecular cell biology, genetics, evolutionary development and evolutionary biology to name several disciplines with evidence for evolution and it's processes. Go here. talkorigins.org
The evidence for evolution is extensive and multi-layered, too much for me to cover comprehensively. The Wikipedia article 'Evidence of common descent' has many subcategories. these are: Evidence from genetics Evidence from palaeontology Evidence from comparative anatomy Evidence from geographical distribution Evidence from comparative physiology and biochemistry Evidence from antibiotic and pesticide resistance Evidence from complex iteration Evidence from observed speciation and adaptation Evidence from intraspecies modifications I would recommend the Wikipeidia article and I am sure there are a large number of YouTube videos dedicated to the subject.
It doesn't. Evolution is explained by population genetics, evolutionary theory.
Slight anatomical changes over significant amounts of time resulting in new species and adaptations is precisely what evolution is. Having a knowledge of certain anatomies allows for comparison. Take orangutan anatomy for example. It is extremely similar to human anatomy, but there are certain differences that tell us that humans are not descendants from orangutans. Also, the fossil record on which evolution evidence is so well based, relies largely on classifying anatomical characteristics.
All species have the same genetic code.
Related species have similar embryos.