roadmap 9&10

What is Archaeopteryx and why is it important?

A transitional fossil showing both avian and dinosaurian traits; key evidence for bird evolution from theropod dinosaurs.

What have more recent fossil discoveries shown?

Many feathered non-avian dinosaurs existed, proving feathers evolved before powered flight.

What does the presence of feathered dinosaurs support?

The dinosaurian origin of birds and a strong phylogenetic connection.

Why do exams emphasize feathered dinosaurs?

They provide transitional morphology that strengthens the evidence for evolution of birds from dinosaurs.

What were Darwin’s key contributions?

Common descent (all life shares ancestry) and natural selection as the mechanism of adaptation.

What did Darwin NOT know about?

DNA, RNA, proteins, or modern genetics.

What is a scientific hypothesis?

A tentative, testable explanation or prediction of an observation.

What is a scientific theory?

A broad explanation supported by many tests and lines of evidence (e.g., theory of evolution by natural selection).

What is a common misconception about evolution?

That evolution is progress toward being "more evolved" — in reality, evolution has no directionality.

Why is the idea "individuals change genetically during their lifetime" false?

Because genetic evolution occurs across generations, not within an individual’s lifetime.

Why is the idea that "phylogenies have a top" incorrect?

No species is “more evolved” overall; all lineages are equally evolved since their last common ancestor.