Extra Credit: Facts of Evolution Video

All species are genealogically and genetically connected through common descent. The video covers the common misconception which Dawkins discusses in Chapter 6 of The Greatest Show on Earth, that is the idea that some modern species evolved from other species. Rather, both humans and chimps came from a more primitive ancestor. Testing has been conducted for 150 years that all has concluded positively for evolution. Pattern of groups within groups in the phyla.

Species are never found with characteristics in their phyla.

The video shows many forms of intermediate fossils, which was very interesting. There are more then 2 dozen intermediate fossils between modern humans and primitive ancestors.

Dating fossils: prokaryotes—sponges—starfish. Why do ostriches have wings that seem useless? Because the wings are not useless to the ostrich, but useless as wings. The video could have been clearer on this point.

Vestigial organs, in humans are the tailbone and appendix. Organs that have no apparent purpose, but are leftover from ancestors. Tailbones are leftover from ancestors with tails. All vestigial organs only make sense in the context of evolution.

Geographical trail. South America and Australia were connected.

The first multicellular line appeared 750 million years ago. All Cambrian era species are
extinct.
Tetrapods appear 343 million years ago.
Microevolution is very abundant and apparent in the fossil record.

Interesting fact: there are salamanders that are only found on the perimeter of the Central Valley in CA. Those salamanders can mate with similar close geographically located salamanders, but not with salamanders found further away.

Darwins—a measure of rate of change.

The spinal cord cannot develop unless the right proteins are secreted. The human genome contains all the information needed for a fetus to develop. We inherit both the capabilities and structures for life from the genome. All of life has these similar structures that operate life’s most basic functions.

Al life has the same 4 proteins in DNA. Bacteria uses the same code as humans do. Glucose is metabolized in the same 10 steps in many organisms.

If there were no common ancestors, it would make sense to find a variety of codes, but we only find one.

Human cylclochrome (unsure of spelling) c protein works in yeast and in many animals. It has been mutated for millions of years.

Human and chimps have the same amino acid proteins. All mammals have at most 10 different forms of DNA, so very similar. Animals that are closely related have the same sequence.

The video concludes by talking about a virus being transmitted through many stages of evolution, and then repeats the introduction.

I found the first half of the video most interesting, as it repeated facts we have all ready study in the book. I liked seeing the things we have learned presented and being able to relate to the information. I especially enjoyed when they pointed out the humans & chimpanzees misconception, as I think that is a very popular fallacy and it is good that many sources are trying to educate people. I also found the part about vestigial organs fascinating, as it does make sense that those would be leftover from earlier ancestors. I thought the presentation of the information about DNA could have been clearer, but it’s possibly because I haven’t thoroughly studied those concepts yet. The video wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, and the narrator’s voice was a little dull, but it was a good overview of many of the facts supporting evolution.