The Berkeley Evolution Site

Students and teachers who explore the Berkeley site will find resources to assist them in understanding and teaching evolution. The materials are arranged into different learning paths, such as "What did T. rex taste like?"

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection explains how in time, creatures more adaptable to changing environments survive and those that are not extinct. This process of evolution in biology is the main focus of science.

What is Evolution?

The term "evolution" has a variety of nonscientific meanings, such as "progress" or "descent with modification." Scientifically it refers to a change in the characteristics of organisms (or species) over time. The reason for this change is biological terms on natural drift and selection.

Evolution is a central tenet of modern biology. It is a concept that has been confirmed by a myriad of scientific tests. It does not address the existence of God or religious beliefs in the same way as other scientific theories such as the Copernican or germ theory of diseases.

Early evolutionists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Erasmus Darwin (Charles's grandfather) believed that certain physical traits were predetermined to change in a step-wise manner, over time. They called this the "Ladder of Nature" or scala naturae. Charles Lyell first used this term in 1833 in his Principles of Geology.

Darwin presented his theory of evolution in his book On the Origin of Species published in the early 1800s. It states that all species of organisms have the same ancestry, which can be traced through fossils and other lines of evidence. This is the modern view of evolution, which is supported in many disciplines which include molecular biology.

Scientists aren't sure how organisms evolved, but they are confident that natural selection and genetic drift is responsible for the development of life. Individuals with advantageous characteristics are more likely to live and reproduce. These individuals then pass their genes on to the next generation. Over time this leads to gradual changes to the gene pool that gradually result in new species and types.

Some scientists use the term"evolution" in reference to large-scale changes, such the development of an animal from an ancestral one. Certain scientists, including population geneticists, define evolution in a more broad sense by referring to the net variation in the frequency of alleles over generations. Both definitions are valid and reliable however some scientists believe that the allele-frequency definition is missing crucial aspects of the evolutionary process.

Origins of Life

The birth of life is a crucial step in evolution. This occurs when living systems begin to develop at a micro-level - within cells, for instance.


The origins of life are an important topic in a variety of disciplines, including biology and chemical. The nature of life is a subject that is of immense interest to scientists, as it challenges the theory of evolution. It is often called "the mystery of life," or "abiogenesis."

Traditionally, the idea that life can arise from nonliving things is called spontaneous generation or "spontaneous evolution." This was a popular view before Louis Pasteur's experiments proved that it was impossible for the development of life to happen through an entirely natural process.

Many scientists still think it is possible to go from nonliving to living substances. The conditions necessary to make life are not easy to replicate in a laboratory. Researchers interested in the origins and development of life are also eager to learn about the physical characteristics of the early Earth as well as other planets.

Additionally, the evolution of life depends on the sequence of extremely complex chemical reactions that can't be predicted based on basic physical laws on their own. These include the reading and replication of complex molecules, such as DNA or RNA, to produce proteins that serve a specific function. These chemical reactions are often compared with the chicken-and-egg problem of how life first appeared: The appearance of DNA/RNA and proteins-based cell machinery is vital for the beginning of life, but without the emergence of life the chemistry that makes it possible isn't working.

Abiogenesis research requires collaboration among scientists from various disciplines. This includes prebiotic chemists, planet scientists, astrobiologists, geologists and geophysicists.

Evolutionary Changes

The term "evolution" today is used to describe cumulative changes in genetic characteristics over time. These changes could result from adaptation to environmental pressures as discussed in the entry on Darwinism (see the entry on Charles Darwin for background) or natural selection.

This process increases the number of genes that provide an advantage for survival in the species, leading to an overall change in the appearance of the group. The specific mechanisms responsible for these evolutionary changes include mutation and reshuffling of genes in sexual reproduction, and also gene flow between populations.

While reshuffling and mutations of genes occur in all living things The process through which beneficial mutations are more prevalent is called natural selection. 에볼루션코리아 happens because, as noted above, those individuals with the advantageous trait are likely to have a higher reproductive rate than those with it. This variation in the number of offspring born over a number of generations could result in a gradual shift in the average number advantageous traits in the group.

A good example of this is the growth of beak size on different species of finches in the Galapagos Islands, which have developed different beak shapes to enable them to more easily access food in their new habitat. These changes in the shape and form of organisms could also be a catalyst for the creation of new species.

The majority of changes are caused by one mutation, although sometimes multiple occur at the same time. The majority of these changes could be neutral or even harmful however, a few may have a positive effect on the survival of the species and reproduce, increasing their frequency as time passes. Natural selection is a mechanism that can produce the accumulating change over time that eventually leads to a new species.

Many people confuse the concept of evolution with the notion that traits inherited can be altered by conscious choice or use and abuse, which is called soft inheritance. This is a misinterpretation of the biological processes that lead up to evolution. It is more accurate to say that evolution is a two-step, separate process, which involves the forces of natural selection as well as mutation.

Origins of Humans

Modern humans (Homo Sapiens) evolved from primates, a group of mammal species that includes chimpanzees and gorillas. The earliest human fossils show that our ancestors were bipeds. They were walkers on two legs. Genetic and biological similarities suggest that we have an intimate relationship with chimpanzees. In actual fact we are the most closely connected to chimpanzees belonging to the Pan genus, which includes bonobos and pygmy-chimpanzees. The last common ancestor between humans and chimpanzees was 8 to 6 million years old.

In the course of time humans have developed a number of characteristics, such as bipedalism as well as the use of fire. They also created advanced tools. But it's only in the past 100,000 years or so that most of the important characteristics that differentiate us from other species have emerged. They include language, a large brain, the capacity to construct and use sophisticated tools, and a cultural diversity.

The process of evolution occurs when genetic changes allow individuals in a group to better adapt to their surroundings. This adaptation is driven by natural selection, a process whereby certain traits are preferred over others. Those with the better adaptations are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation. This is how all species evolve and forms the foundation of the theory of evolution.

Scientists call it the "law of natural selection." The law states that species which share a common ancestor tend to develop similar traits over time. This is because the traits make it easier for them to live and reproduce in their natural environment.

Every organism has a DNA molecule that provides the information necessary to control their growth and development. The DNA molecule is made up of base pairs that are arranged in a spiral around phosphate molecules and sugar molecules. The sequence of bases found in each strand determines the phenotype, the appearance and behavior of a person. The variations in a population are caused by mutations and reshufflings of genetic material (known collectively as alleles).

Fossils from the earliest human species, Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis, have been found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Despite some differences the fossils all support the hypothesis that modern humans first appeared in Africa. The genetic and fossil evidence suggests that early humans left Africa and migrated to Asia and Europe.