* **Paleontology**: paleontology revealed the various organisms and the major lines of evolution. Fossils can be dated by:
i. The age of the rocks where a fossil is found
ii. The rate of decay of isotopes including carbon-14
iii. Geographical data
* **Biogeography**, or the study of the distribution of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) in the environment: scientists found related species in widely separated regions of the world.
* **Embryology**, or the study of development of an organism: All the vertebrates—including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and even mammals such as humans—show fishlike features called gill slits.
* **Morphological homologies**, or the study of the anatomy of various animals: scientists discovered that some animals have similar structures that serve different functions. Homologous structures, also point to a common ancestor. Analogous structures evolved totally independently of one another.
* **Molecular Biology**: Similar DNA sequences suggest closer relationships between organisms