Registro fósil y estructuras homólogas

Fossil Record

• The fossil record displays a chronological sequence of life forms on Earth, demonstrating the progression of life through time.
• Fossils of extinct organisms reveal intermediate forms between different groups, filling in gaps and supporting evolutionary relationships.
• Transitional fossils connect older and younger species, showcasing evolutionary changes in anatomical structures over time.
• The fossil record is incomplete due to limitations in preservation, yet provides substantial evidence for evolutionary change.

Homologous Anatomical Structures

• Homologous structures are anatomical features in diverse organisms sharing a similar underlying structure, despite differing functions.
• These similarities point to shared ancestry, with the structures modified over evolutionary time to suit different environments.
• Comparative anatomy demonstrates homologous structures across species, suggesting common ancestry and the process of divergence.
• Examples include mammalian forelimbs, sharing a similar bone structure despite diverse functions (e.g., flight in bats, swimming in whales, walking in humans).

Embryology

• Embryological development displays similarities in early stages across various vertebrate species.
• These shared developmental patterns suggest common ancestry, highlighting the conservation of genes controlling development over time.
• Similarities in embryonic features persist despite later divergence in adult forms.
• Identical structures during early development imply shared ancestral origins.

DNA Sequences

• DNA sequences are powerful tools for analyzing evolutionary relationships.
• Comparing DNA sequences between species reveals similarities reflecting evolutionary ancestry.
• Higher DNA sequence similarity between organisms suggests a more recent common ancestor; greater differences imply a more distant common ancestor.
• DNA mutations accumulate over time, reflecting lineage divergence and adaptation.
• Phylogenetic trees can be constructed using DNA data to visualize evolutionary relationships and branching patterns.