CONFIDENCE IN THE FACT OF EVOLUTION

RESTS UPON THREE GREAT CLASSES OF INFORMATION – ACCORDING TO

GOULD

SMALL SCALE/ SHORT TERM CHANGES

• CHANGES WE CAN SEE DURING A LIFETIME• DIRECTLY OBSERVABLE

PESTICIDE RESISTANCE

PEPPERED MOTH

BACTERIA RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS

• EX MERSA• METHACILLIN• RESISTANT• STAPHYLOCOCCUS• AUREUS

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION

TOLERANCE IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS

DANDELION HEIGHT

LARGE SCALE/LONG TERM CHANGES

• CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE OVER TENS OF THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS, TENS OF MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, AND BILLIONS OF YEARS

• WE CANNOT POSSIBLE OBSERVE THESE CHANGES, BUT WE CAN INFER THEM FROM THE EVIDENCE

FISH TO AMPHIBIAN

REPTILE TO MAMMAL

REPTILE TO BIRD

WHALE EVOLUTION

SIGNS OF HISTORY PRESERVED IN LIVING THINGS AND ECOSYSTEMS

HUMAN VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES

• TAILBONE• APPENDIX• EAR WIGGLE• NICTITATING MEMBRANE• WEBBING IN FINGERS AND TOES• WISDOM TEETH• ……….

VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES IN WHALES

• Hind limbs• Finger muscles• Diaphragm• Ear canal that leads to no external ear• ….

VESTIGES IN SNAKES

• HIPS, LEGS IN PYTHONS, BOAS

EVIDENCE OF HISTORY IN ECOSYSTEMS

• COAL IN ANTARCTICA• SEA FOSSILS IN DESERT REGIONS• SEA FOSSILS ON MOUNTAIN TOPS• LAND FOSSILS ON SEA FLOOR• …..• DUE TO CONTINENTAL DRIFT