This document outlines the five evidences that support the theory of evolution: 1) The fossil record shows similarities between ancient and modern species. 2) Anatomical evidence like homologous and vestigial structures provide evidence of common ancestry. 3) Comparative embryology shows that vertebrate embryos share similar early structures. 4) Comparative biochemistry finds similarities in DNA that are used to classify organisms. 5) Geographic distribution of related species on islands first suggested evolution to Darwin as island species evolved similar traits.

1. The Five Evidences of Evolution
SB5: Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the
development of the theory of evolution.

2. Support for Evolution
 1 ) The fossil record
 Fossils provide a record of species that lived long ago.
 Fossils show that ancient species share similarities with
species that now live on Earth.

3. Evidence of Evolution
 2) Anatomical Evidence
 A) Derived traits are newly
evolved features, such as
feathers, that do not
appear in the fossils of
common ancestors.
 B) Ancestral traits are
more primitive features,
such as teeth and tails,
that do appear in
ancestral forms.
 C) Homologous structures
are anatomically similar
structures inherited from a
common ancestor.

4.  D) Analogous structures
can be used for the
same purpose and can
be superficially similar in
construction, but are not
inherited from a
common ancestor.

5. E) Vestigial Structures
 Structures that are the
reduced forms of
functional structures in
other organisms
 Evolutionary theory
predicts that features of
ancestors that no longer
have a function for that
species will become
smaller over time until
they are lost.

6. Evidence of Evolution
3) Comparative Embryology
 Vertebrate embryos
exhibit similar structures
during the early phases
of development.

7. Evidence of Evolution
4) Comparative
Biochemistry
 Organisms have
similarities in DNA that
scientists use to classify
them.

8. 5) Geographical Distribution
 The distribution of plants
and animals that Darwin
saw during his South
American travels first
suggested evolution to
Darwin.
 He noticed that animals
and plants that were on
the same islands had
evolved similar traits but
they still were more
similar to organisms from
their native country/island.
 Picture of a English rabbit and
Mara