Understanding Evolution: your one-stop source for information on evolution
Welcome to Understanding Evolution
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Dive right in: for basic information on how evolution works, start with Evolution 101.

Browse by topic

How evolution works What is evolution and how does it work?
Detailed explanations of the mechanisms of evolution and the history of life on Earth
Includes: Examples of evolution, Genetics, History of life on Earth, Macroevolution, Microevolution, Natural selection, Speciation ...
Relevance of evolution How does evolution impact my life?
The relevance of evolutionary theory to our everyday lives
Includes: Agriculture, Conservation, Medicine ...
Evidence and examples What is the evidence for evolution?
Multiple lines of scientific evidence relating to evolution
Includes: Homology and analogy ...
History of evolutionary thought What is the history of evolutionary theory?
The history of ideas, research, and contributors in the study of evolution


Looking for information on controversies in the public arena relating to evolution? See our frequently-asked questions.


Teaching evolution

Understanding Evolution for teachers

Explore the ultimate evolution resource for K-16 teachers, including:

• lesson plans

• conceptual framework

...and more.

Teachers click here >>

Evo in the news
DNA Genealogy enthusiasts mine DNA for clues to evolutionary history - November 2007
If you've ever sat down with a great aunt to reconstruct your family history, wondered if you might be related to Genghis Khan, or tried to calculate what portion of your genes come from that rowdy great-grandparent that your dad never wants to talk about, you might be tempted to try out the latest in genealogy research: DNA. Last month saw the launch of GeneTree.com, a business combining social networking with genetic testing. For a fee, GeneTree will use the DNA in a sample of your cheek cells (collected with a special mouthwash) to "discover your deepest ancestral roots." With advances in DNA technology, some genetic tests are relatively easy to perform, and GeneTree joins more than 20 other companies aiming to unravel ancestry via DNA tests. But what are the limits of these tests? An evolutionary perspective helps reveal whether these companies can deliver on their promises.

Read the whole story to see the evolution connection >>

highlights

How to survive a mass extinction: The work of David Jablonski How to survive a mass extinction: The work of David Jablonski
This profile focuses on the research of paleontologist David Jablonski as he studies how extinction actually works, what it means for patterns of evolution, and how this all relates to modern conservation efforts.
Evo-devo Evo-devo
Understanding the process of development can help us understand how some major evolutionary changes occurred and why others did not. Find out more in this advanced tutorial.




Ancient fossils and modern climate change: The work of Jennifer McElwain Ancient fossils and modern climate change: The work of Jennifer McElwain
This research profile examines how scientist Jennifer McElwain studies plant evolution in order to understand the history and patterns of global climate change.
Evo in the News archive Evo in the news archive
Many exciting newspaper headlines result from the application of evolutionary theory to scientific research. Every month we examine the evolution angle behind these current news stories. Browse our archive to see past stories.

This site was created by the University of California Museum of Paleontology with support provided by the National Science Foundation (grant no. 0096613) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (grant no. 51003439).