BIOL 202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Marsupial, Ichthyosaurus, Tiktaalik
Document Summary
All species appear at the same time (6000 years ago) Descent with modification hypothesis predicts: multiple spp appear at different times in the fossil record, huge span of time between species, transitional forms are present. Rules / scientific laws that express relationships between observations constructed to conform to available empirical data about observations, and is put forth as a principle or body of principles for explaining a class of phenomena. Scientific theories are more overarching explanations of how nature works and why it exhibits certain characteristics. Cell theory about how cells as basic units of life. Atomic theory about how the universe is composed of atoms. Germ theory about how bacteria/viruses cause disease. Theory of quantum mechanics about how behavior of e and matter at the atomic scale. Given the low likelihood of fossil preservation and recovery, it"s not surprising that there are gaps in the fossil record. Intermediate forms have been found that demonstrate how major transitions occurred.