Evidences of evolution:

(1) Paleontological evidences ⟶ Paleontology is the study of past life based on fossil records.

During the formation of sedimentary rocks, dead animals get buried in the rocks. The hard remains of these animals are preserved in the rocks, in the form of layers, deeper layer had earlier fossils & upper layers have recent.

(2) Anatomical and morphological similarities:-

Homologous organs: Organs of different species which look different & perform different functions but have same basic structure & similar embryonic origin are homologous organs. Homology is based on divergent evolution & also indicates common ancestory.

For example: Whales, bats, Cheetah and human share similarities in the pattern of bones of forelimbs. Though these forelimbs perform different functions in these animals, they have similar anatomical structure – all of them have humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals and phalanges in their forelimbs.  In plants also, the thorn and tendrils of Bougainvillea and Cucurbita.

Analogous organs→ Organs of different species which look different & have different embryological origin, But performs same function, there organs are analogous organs . Analogy leads to convergent evolution.

For example: Tthe eye of the octopus and of mammals,  the flippers of Penguins and Dolphins.  Sweet potato (root modification) and potato (stem modification) is another example for analogy. Wings of butterfly and of birds look alike.

(3) Embryological evidence→ Early embryo of all vertebrates have same structures & shape. It was given by Ernst Hackle.

(4) Evidence from animal & plant breading→ Man has domesticated many wild animals and crops. This intensive breeding programme has created breeds that differ from other breeds (e.g., dogs) but still are of the same group.

(5) Natural selection shown by Industrial melanism→

The replacement of light coloured species by dark coloured species due to dominant mutation in single gene because of increasing industrialization is called industrial melanism.

1) Before industrialisation there were more white-winged moths on trees than dark-winged or melanised moths. But after industrialization, there were more dark-winged moths in the same area, i.e., the proportion was reversed.

2) During post-industrialisation period, the tree trunks became dark due to industrial smoke. Under this condition the white-winged moth did not survive due to predators, dark-winged or melanised moth survived.

3) Before industrialisation set in, thick growth of almost white-coloured lichen covered the trees - in that background the white winged moth survived but the dark-coloured moth were picked out by predators.

4) Lichens are the indicators of pollution free areas because they grow only in pollution free areas.