In biology, evolution is the process by which populations of organisms acquire and pass on novel traits from generation to generation. Its action over large stretches of time explains the origin of new species and ultimately the vast diversity of the biological world. The living species of today are related to each other through common descent, products of evolution and speciation over billions of years. The phylogenetic tree at right represents these re ...

Including:

• Evolution - Overview of evolution
• Evolution - Evidence of evolution
• Evolution - History of evolutionary thought
• Evolution - Misconceptions of modern evolutionary biology
• Evolution - Social and religious controversies
• Evolution - Science of evolution
• Evolution - Academic disciplines
• Evolution - The Modern Synthesis
• Evolution - Heredity
• Evolution - Mechanisms of evolution
• Evolution - Speciation and extinction
• Evolution - Notes and references

Read more here: » Evolution: Encyclopedia - Evolution

See also:

Pterosaur, Pterosaur - Fossil evidence, Pterosaur - Anatomy, Pterosaur - Hair, Pterosaur - Ground movement, Pterosaur - Behavior, Pterosaur - Evolution and extinction, Pterosaur - Classification, Pterosaur - Well-known genera

Read more here: » Pterosaur: Encyclopedia II - Pterosaur - Evolution and extinction

Evolution - Evidence of evolution. Main article: Evidence of evolution The process of evolution has left behind numerous records which reveal the history of different species. While the best-known of these are the fossils, fossils are only a small part of the overall physical record of evolution. Fossils, taken together with the comparative anatomy of present-day plants and animals, constitute the morphological record. By comparing the anatomies of both modern and extinct species ...

See also:

Evolution, Evolution - Overview of evolution, Evolution - Evidence of evolution, Evolution - History of evolutionary thought, Evolution - Misconceptions about modern evolutionary biology, Evolution - Social and religious controversies, Evolution - Science of evolution, Evolution - Academic disciplines, Evolution - The Modern Synthesis, Evolution - Heredity, Evolution - Mechanisms of evolution, Evolution - Speciation and extinction, Evolution - Notes and references

Read more here: » Evolution: Encyclopedia II - Evolution - Overview of evolution

Hindu Quotes: Transformation and Extinction

Brahman creates the game of life by breaking Himself into parts that undergo transformation and extinction.

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(See also: Hinduism Archives, Hindu Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Read more here: » Hindu Quotes: Transformation and Extinction

Allopatric speciation, also known as geographic speciation, occurs when populations physically isolated by an extrinsic barrier evolve intrinsic (genetic) reproductive isolation such that if the barrier between the populations breaks down, individuals of the two populations can no longer interbreed. Although there is some debate about the frequency of other types of speciation (such as sympatric speciation and parapatric speciation), all evolutionary biologists ...

Read more here: » Allopatric speciation: Encyclopedia - Allopatric speciation

An extinct language (also called a dead language) is a language which no longer has any native speakers. Normally this occurs when a language undergoes language death while being directly replaced by a different one, for example, Coptic, which was replaced by Arabic, and many Native American languages, whose languages were replaced by English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. A more controversial usage of the term dead language, is to refer to an older language which changed significantly and evolved into a new lan ...

Including:

• Extinct language - Examples of recently extinct languages
• Extinct language - Links
• Extinct language - Bibliography

Read more here: » Extinct language: Encyclopedia - Extinct language

Human evolution is the process of change and development, or evolution, by which human beings emerged as a distinct species. It is the subject of a broad scientific inquiry that seeks to understand and describe how this change and development occurred. The study of human evolution encompasses many scientific disciplines, most notably physical anthropology and genetics. The term 'human', in the context of human evolution, refers to the genus Homo, but studies of human evolution usually include other hominids, such as the austral ...

Including:

• Human evolution - History of paleoanthropology
• Human evolution - Before Homo
• Human evolution - The Homo genus
• Human evolution - Homo habilis
• Human evolution - Homo erectus
• Human evolution - Homo ergaster
• Human evolution - Homo heidelbergensis
• Human evolution - Homo sapiens idaltu
• Human evolution - Homo floresiensis
• Human evolution - Homo neanderthalensis
• Human evolution - Homo sapiens
• Human evolution - Additional notes

Read more here: » Human evolution: Encyclopedia - Human evolution

The Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T or KT) extinction event, also known as the KT boundary, was a period of massive extinction of species, about 65.5 million years ago. It corresponds to the end of the Cretaceous Period and the beginning of the Tertiary Period. (K is the traditional abbreviation for the Cretaceous period. Cretaceous comes from the Latin for chalk, creta. The K comes from the German word for chalk kreide, or possibly Greek kreta. The K is used so as ...

Including:

• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Casualties of the extinction
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Theories
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Alvarez hypothesis
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Chicxulub crater
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Deccan traps
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Multiple impact event
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Supernova hypothesis
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Further skepticism
• Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event - Other mass extinctions

Read more here: » Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event: Encyclopedia - Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event

Sociocultural evolution(ism) is an umbrella term for theories of cultural evolution and social evolution, describing how cultures and societies have developed over time. Although such theories typically provide models for understanding the relationship between technologies, social structure, the values of a society, and how and why they change with time, they vary as to the extent to which the ...

Including:

• Sociocultural evolution - Overview
• Sociocultural evolution - Classical social evolutionism
• Sociocultural evolution - Development
• Sociocultural evolution - Sociocultural evolutionism and the idea of progress
• Sociocultural evolution - Critique and impact on modern theories
• Sociocultural evolution - Modern theories
• Sociocultural evolution - Contemporary moral and political debates over sociocultural evolution
• Sociocultural evolution - Notes

Read more here: » Sociocultural evolution: Encyclopedia - Sociocultural evolution

History of creationism Creation in Genesis Types of creationism: Young Earth creationism - Creation science Old Earth creationism Omphalos creationism Theistic evolution Neo-Creationism Islamic creationism Intelligent design - Intelligent design movement Modern geocentrism Controversy: Creation vs. evolution ... in public education Associated articles Teach the Controversy Irreducible ...

Including:

• Creation-evolution controversy - Overview of the controversy
• Creation-evolution controversy - Common venues for debate
• Creation-evolution controversy - Conflicts inherent to the controversy
• Creation-evolution controversy - Defining evolution
• Creation-evolution controversy - False dichotomy
• Creation-evolution controversy - Conflation of science and religion
• Creation-evolution controversy - Accusations involving science
• Creation-evolution controversy - Theory vs. Fact
• Creation-evolution controversy - Evidence against evolution
• Creation-evolution controversy - Accusations of bias
• Creation-evolution controversy - Religion and Historical Scientists
• Creation-evolution controversy - Quote mining
• Creation-evolution controversy - Noteworthy participants in the controversy
• Creation-evolution controversy - Creationists
• Creation-evolution controversy - Their opposition
• Creation-evolution controversy - Ramifications of the controversy
• Creation-evolution controversy - Public education in the United States
• Creation-evolution controversy - Surveys of views in the United States
• Creation-evolution controversy - Survey of views in German speaking countries
• Creation-evolution controversy - Controversy in education world-wide
• Creation-evolution controversy - History
• Creation-evolution controversy - Footnotes

Read more here: » Creation-evolution controversy: Encyclopedia - Creation-evolution controversy

In evolutionary biology, convergent evolution describes the process whereby organisms not closely related independently acquire similar characteristics while evolving in separate and sometimes varying ecosystems. An example of convergent evolution is the similar nature of the wings of insects, birds, and bats. All three serve the same function and are similar in structure, but each evolved indepen ...

Including:

• Convergent evolution - Other examples

Read more here: » Convergent evolution: Encyclopedia - Convergent evolution

The fossil record suggests that the genus Canis diverged from the small, foxlike Leptocyon in North America sometime in the Late Miocene Epoch (9 MYA – 10 MYA), along with two other genera, Urocyon, and Vulpes. Canids soon spread to Asia and Europe (8 MYA) and become the ancestors of modern wolves, jackals, foxes, and Raccoon Dogs. By 4 MYA – 5 MYA, canids spread to Afri ...

See also:

Dire Wolf, Dire Wolf - Characteristics, Dire Wolf - Evolution and extinction, Dire Wolf - La Brea Tar Pits

Read more here: » Dire Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Dire Wolf - Evolution and extinction

Definition and meaning of vicariant speciation:

vicariant speciation - speciation when a single, widespread population is divided by (1) the emergence of an extrinsic barrier, (2) extinction of intervening populations, or (3) migration of some individuals into a separate region

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of allopatric speciation:

allopatric speciation - the evolution of a new species because of the isolation of a small group of individuals from the other members of a population

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of parapatric speciation:

parapatric speciation - speciation in which the new species forms from a population contiguous with the ancestral species' geographic range. The evolution of reproductive isolating mechanisms occurred when the population entered a new niche or habitat within the range of the parent species

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

There have been at least five mass extinctions in the history of life,and four in the last 3.5 billion years in which many species have disappeared in a relatively short period of geological time. These are covered in more detail in the article on extinction events. The most recent of these, the K-T extinction 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period, is best known for having wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs, among many other species. According to a 1998 survey of 400 biologists conducted by New York's American ...

See also:

Extinction, Extinction - Definition, Extinction - Permanence, Extinction - Causes, Extinction - Genetic and demographic causes, Extinction - Habitat degradation, Extinction - Predation competition and disease, Extinction - Coextinction, Extinction - Effects, Extinction - Mass extinctions, Extinction - Human extinction, Extinction - Human attitudes on extinction, Extinction - Extinction in species other than Homo sapiens, Extinction - Extinction in the species Homo sapiens, Extinction - Planned extinction, Extinction - Scientists, Extinction - Environmental movement, Extinction - Commercial and industrial interests, Extinction - Governments and international organizations, Extinction - Indigenous populations, Extinction - Endangered species, Extinction - Notes

Read more here: » Extinction: Encyclopedia II - Extinction - Mass extinctions

Definition and meaning of speciation:

speciation - the evolutionary process that gives rise to a new species

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Olivia Judson is one of few modern scientists to have advocated the deliberate extinction of any species. Her controversial 2003 NY Times article advocates "specicide" of thirty mosquito species through the introduction of recessive "knockout genes". Her defense of such an extreme measure rests on: Anopheles mosquitoes and Aedes mosquito represent only 30 species; eradicating these would save at least one million human lives per annum at a cost of reducing the genetic diversity of the family Culicidae by only 1%. She wr ...

See also:

Extinction, Extinction - Definition, Extinction - Permanence, Extinction - Causes, Extinction - Genetic and demographic causes, Extinction - Habitat degradation, Extinction - Predation competition and disease, Extinction - Coextinction, Extinction - Effects, Extinction - Mass extinctions, Extinction - Human extinction, Extinction - Human attitudes on extinction, Extinction - Extinction in species other than Homo sapiens, Extinction - Extinction in the species Homo sapiens, Extinction - Planned extinction, Extinction - Scientists, Extinction - Environmental movement, Extinction - Commercial and industrial interests, Extinction - Governments and international organizations, Extinction - Indigenous populations, Extinction - Endangered species, Extinction - Notes

Read more here: » Extinction: Encyclopedia II - Extinction - Planned extinction

Extinction - Extinction in species other than Homo sapiens. Because humans are a reasonably intelligent species capable of abstract thought, the views on the extinction of species other than Homo sapiens tend to be diverse, ranging from the preservative views of the most vehement eco-warrior to general apathy in the matter. However, it is seen that humans as a whole generally will act to protect against the extinction of species (primarily species that have a direct impact on human agriculture, such ...

See also:

Extinction, Extinction - Definition, Extinction - Permanence, Extinction - Causes, Extinction - Genetic and demographic causes, Extinction - Habitat degradation, Extinction - Predation competition and disease, Extinction - Coextinction, Extinction - Effects, Extinction - Mass extinctions, Extinction - Human extinction, Extinction - Human attitudes on extinction, Extinction - Extinction in species other than Homo sapiens, Extinction - Extinction in the species Homo sapiens, Extinction - Planned extinction, Extinction - Scientists, Extinction - Environmental movement, Extinction - Commercial and industrial interests, Extinction - Governments and international organizations, Extinction - Indigenous populations, Extinction - Endangered species, Extinction - Notes

Read more here: » Extinction: Encyclopedia II - Extinction - Human attitudes on extinction

A species becomes extinct when the last existing member of that species dies. Extinction therefore becomes a certainty when no surviving specimens are able to reproduce and create a new generation. A species may become functionally extinct when only a handful of individuals survive, which are unable to reproduce due to health, age, lack of both sexes (in species that reproduce sexually), or other reasons. In addition to actual extinction, human attempts to preserve critically endangered species have caused the creation of the conserva ...

See also:

Extinction, Extinction - Definition, Extinction - Permanence, Extinction - Causes, Extinction - Genetic and demographic causes, Extinction - Habitat degradation, Extinction - Predation competition and disease, Extinction - Coextinction, Extinction - Effects, Extinction - Mass extinctions, Extinction - Human extinction, Extinction - Human attitudes on extinction, Extinction - Extinction in species other than Homo sapiens, Extinction - Extinction in the species Homo sapiens, Extinction - Planned extinction, Extinction - Scientists, Extinction - Environmental movement, Extinction - Commercial and industrial interests, Extinction - Governments and international organizations, Extinction - Indigenous populations, Extinction - Endangered species, Extinction - Notes

Read more here: » Extinction: Encyclopedia II - Extinction - Definition