Darwin's Predictions
Over 150 years later, science continues to confirm most of Darwin's conjectures.
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Darwin's Predictions
Ahead of his time is putting it moderately for Charles Darwin. The father of evolution had conjectures that were only proved, or greatly substantiated, decades after his death in 1882, in some cases not until recently. Today, evidence that unequivocally supports his theory of evolution by natural selection, along with other surmises he had, comes from an array of scientific disciplines. Here, bone up on Darwin's most prophetic ideas.
- 10/01/2007
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- Slide Show
Gene Switches
Some genes in our genome act as switches, turning other genes on or off at different times and for different lengths of time. In an animal's embryonic stage, these gene switches play a predominant role in laying out the animal's basic body plan and perform other early functions. In this slide show, you'll see a striking example–in that lab standard Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly–of just how powerful these embryonic gene switches can be.
Gene Switches
Some genes turn other genes on and off. In this slide show, see how powerful these gene switches can be.
- 08/01/2007
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- Interactive
Fossil Evidence
In 2004, scientists digging in the Canadian Arctic unearthed fossils of a half-fish, half-amphibian that all but confirmed paleontologists' theories about how land-dwelling tetrapods–four-limbed animals, including us–evolved from fish. It is a classic example of a transitional form, one that bridges a so-called evolutionary gap between different types of animal. In this slide show, examine five important cases.
Fossil Evidence
Examine five transitional species that fill so-called gaps in the fossil record.
- 11/01/2007
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Who's Who In Human Evolution
Despite a fragmentary fossil record, paleoanthropologists have assembled a solid general picture of human evolution. They have traced hominins–that is, species that are bipedal and that are more closely related to humans than to other apes–back more than six million years. In this clickable illustration, follow the trajectory of hominin development from the earliest known species right up to our own kind, Homo sapiens.
Who's Who In Human Evolution
Meet your increasingly distant cousins in this clickable illustration of the past seven million years.
- 11/01/2008
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- Interactive
Evolution in Action
Darwin recognized that species evolve over time as their environments change. In this feature, see for yourself how a changing environment (represented by different background colors) can prompt the evolution of a population of virtual creatures. Like real-world organisms, these creatures are born, produce offspring—some of which have random mutations that affect their color—and die off. How will they evolve?
Evolution in Action
In this game, change the environment of "living" things and see how random mutations help them survive.
- 02/01/2002
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- Interactive
Compare the Skeletons
In human evolution, the transition from walking on all fours to walking upright didn't occur in a single step. Many changes to our ancestors' skeletons and muscles, not to mention their behavior, took place over millennia. Here, compare the skeletons of chimpanzees and modern humans—as well as that of our early bipedal predecessor, Australopithecus afarensis—to see some of the physiological modifications that made walking upright possible.
Compare the Skeletons
The bones of chimps, early human ancestors, and modern people reveal what it takes for us to walk upright.
- 10/01/2006
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Origins of Bipedalism
Why do we walk on two feet? If you asked a roomful of anthropologists, you'd likely get a different answer from each person. In the course of human evolution, was there one key factor—changing landscapes, the need to keep cool, the advantage of attracting a mate? Here, sample leading hypotheses and vote for the one you prefer. Then hear paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson's take.
Origins of Bipedalism
Explore hypotheses for why we stand up, choose your favorite, then hear what paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson thinks.
- 10/01/2006
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- Interactive
Our Family Tree
Though we may be the cleverest of the bunch, we humans have a lot in common with the other great apes—the chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and orangutan. Compared to lesser primates, such as monkeys, we five “hominid” primates are tailless, larger–bodied, and smarter; we even share 98 percent of our DNA. Yet we differ in diet, temperament, and social behavior. In this family tree, take a broad look at what sets us and the other great apes apart.
Our Family Tree
See (and hear) where you stand among the great apes in this audiovisual interactive.
- 01/01/2008
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- Interactive
Arms Race With a Superbug
Most of us rely on antibiotics when we get sick. But some bacteria have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics, and even more alarmingly, some “superbugs” can withstand a host of different medications. A sobering case in point is Staphylococcus aureus. As this time line shows, strains of Staph aureus have gotten the better of every antibiotic we've developed. Here, follow this ongoing arms race and learn about its unsettling implications.
Arms Race With a Superbug
Certain microbes evolve defenses against every antibiotic we throw at them. Staph aureus is a sobering case in point.
- 07/01/2008
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- Interactive
A Brief History of Life
It's hard to wrap your mind around the concept of 4.5 billion years. For many of us, the Pyramids–built 4,500 years ago, a millionth of that time span–symbolize the distant past. The geological time scale helps us grapple with the vast swaths of time that life has existed on Earth, dividing it into eras, periods, and epochs. With our illustrated version, explore 4.5 billion years of life in just a few minutes.
A Brief History of Life
An overview of the history of life on Earth, from the earliest bacteria to the first modern humans
- 02/01/2002
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- Interactive
Explore the Galapagos
The Galapagos Islands, a remote archipelago off the coast of Ecuador, may be the birthplace of our scientific understanding of evolution. Charles Darwin, who put the Galapagos on the map, pointed to them as the "origin of all my views." In this multimedia feature, get a sense of their extraordinary animals and landscapes through panoramic photos, video, and audio. And trace Darwin's journey to see how the islands sparked his thinking about evolution.
Explore the Galapagos
With a multimedia map, see the islands as they are today and learn how they inspired Darwin.
- 10/26/2009
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- Interactive
Guess the Embryo
Any animal, be it a blue whale, botfly, or human, starts out as a single, fertilized cell. Then the cell divides, differentiates, and ultimately develops into a full-fledged animal according to a special set of genetic instructions–a "toolkit" that tells the embryo how and where to develop limbs and organs. All animals on Earth use essentially the same toolkit, so embryos of different species can appear startlingly similar to one another. Here, try to match a series of embryos to their adult forms, and then watch each creature develop during a portion of its early growth.
Guess the Embryo
See if you can tell what four similar-looking embryos will become, and watch each develop.
- 10/26/2009
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