Can anyone point me to records of specific experiments which led to evidence of any aspect of evolution?

Question

I am not looking for the Rhetoric. If you can't point me to the records of an experiment or study than please don't answer.

Answer 1

The above sources are all great examples of micro evolution. This is the process where a species changes to a new species through natural processes. This is the process where through natural selection, the genes more readily adaptable to a given environment are passed on and proliferated while the genes not optimal for the environment faded out.

There are currently experiments going on to see if this is a reversible process. (IE can the finches famous from Darwin's observations able to re-adapt to the original environment and therefor rejoin the parent species, or is that genetic material gone forever.) This will prove to be a very interesting experiment.

There have not been any experiments that have been able to prove macro evolution. This is the theoretical process whereby one genus can change over time enough to create a new genus (feline to canine, etc).

There has been several experiments where what is thought to be the initially present elements were subjected to lightning and other environmental factor to try and create a viable single or multiple cellular organism. These experiments have not been successful to this point.

Answer 2

Such an experiment would be virtually impossible in any kind of clinical setting due to the fact that we could never reproduce all the various pressures and conditions any given species may be exposed to in the wild. In the wild, there are far more variables involved than we could keep track of or figure into equations properly. See chaos theory.

With the exception of humans (since we're pretty much not subject to natural selection anymore), it is impossible for evolution to not happen. Whatever "evolving" humans are doing now is simply creating excesses of those who would have died in a natural setting.

Answer 3

Hmm. I am answering this very quickly, so I will leave the research to you. I believe that in British Columbia, Canada, a biologist did some research experiments on stickleback fish in certain lakes.

I am sure there are others.

You know how many health professionals are concerned about bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics? You could regard this as a continuous experiment. It is evolution in action.

And of course, there is "The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.

Anyway, that's my bit for now.

Answer 4

The Kennel Club pedigree records-or indeed any form of human/animal selective breeding.
Cattle societies, Pig breeding, pigeon fancying, chicken production even beekeeping etc all show that through selective breeding positive (and negative!!!! traits -hip Dysplasia for example) can be enhanced to suit the purpose of the breeder.
After all dogs can be genetically traced back to a small group of wolves which if I recall correctly was part of a National Geographic article some time ago.

Answer 5

Charles Darwin - The Origin of Species

Answer 6

Well, most experiments in genetics and biology are off the basis of evolution. Vaccines are a practical experiment in evolution. Basically, so many parts of science support evolution, there is no one experiment that encompasses all of evolution.

Answer 7

A lot of work in genome comparison supports evolutionary theory. One interesting finding was the evidence that one of our chromosomes is the result of two chromosomes fusing. This explains how humans have 23 chromosome pairs while apes have 24.

Answer 8

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/5568/707?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=darwins+finch&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

article in NATURE (Losos, J. B., K .I.
Warheit and T. W. Schoener. 1997. Adaptive differentiation
following experimental island colonization in Anolis lizards.
Nature 387:70-73) http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v387/n6628/abs/387070a0.html

try those. Experimental evidence showing evolution even over short periods of time.

Answer 9

Check out Dr Richard Lenski's work on bacteria (Michigan State Univ).

Answer 10

happy reading!
also, read Charles Darwin's 'Origin of Species'