Biology, Eighth Edition (Raven)

Chapter 21: The Evidence for Evolution

Learning Outcomes

• Describe of evolutionary information the fossil record provides and how we know that it is reliable.
• Explain how horses evolved from dog-size browsers to present fleet-footed grazers.
• Explain why beak size in Darwin’s finches provides a classic example of evolution by natural selection.
• Explain how industrial melanism can shift phenotypes within a population as a result of natural selection.
• Recognize how artificial selection by humans results in evolutionary change.
• Understand why studies of homology, development, imperfect structures and vestigial structures provide important information supporting evolution.
• Explain how the molecular record provides evidence for evolution.
• Describe and give examples of convergent evolution.
• Understand why there is still public controversy regarding the teaching of evolution.
• Understand the lines of scientific evidence that support evolution to be able to refute the arguments why evolution should not be taught in schools.