Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
This forms an important part of the evidence on which evolutionary theory rests, demonstrates that evolution does occur, and illustrates the processes that created Earth's biodiversity. It supports the modern evolutionary synthesis—the current scientific theory that explains how and why life changes
Embryology theories of Ernst Haeckel, who argued for recapitulation [3] of evolutionary development in the embryo, and Karl Ernst von Baer's epigenesis. A recapitulation theory of evolutionary development was proposed by Étienne Serres in 1824–26, echoing the 1808 ideas of Johann Friedrich Meckel.
Darwin's theory of evolution is based on key facts and the inferences drawn from them, which biologist Ernst Mayr summarised as follows: [6] Every species is fertile enough that if all offspring survived to reproduce, the population would grow (fact). Despite periodic fluctuations, populations remain roughly the same size (fact).
Evolution provides the field of biology with a solid scientific base. The significance of evolutionary theory is summarised by Theodosius Dobzhansky as "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." [78] [79] Nevertheless, the theory of evolution is not static. There is much discussion within the scientific community ...
Evolutionary developmental biology is primarily concerned with the ways in which evolution affects development, [2] and seeks to unravel the causes of evolutionary innovations. [3] The approach is relatively new, but has roots in Schultz's The physical distinctions of man, from the 1940s. Shultz urged broad comparative studies to identify ...
Multiregional evolution holds that the human species first arose around two million years ago and subsequent human evolution has been within a single, continuous human species. This species encompasses all archaic human forms such as Homo erectus , Denisovans , and Neanderthals as well as modern forms, and evolved worldwide to the diverse ...
After years of development, he finally published his evidence and theory in On the Origin of Species in 1859. [23] Similar to the term "theory of evolution", the word "theory" is also evident in the names given for other scientific theories, as in "atom theory", "germ theory of diseases" or "cell theory".
In evolutionary developmental biology, scientists look at how the different processes in development play a role in how a specific organism reaches its current body plan. The genetic regulation of ontogeny and the phylogenetic process is what allows for this kind of understanding of biology to be possible.