Technology and Gathering Evidence in Support of Evolution

Throughout the book, we see Coyne's assertion of why evolution is true backed up by multiple sources of evidence (ex: vestiges, fossils, coevolution, experiments, etc.). However, it may be advantageous to discuss the technology that has helped gather the evidence used to support evolution.

Explain how one of the pieces of evidence that Coyne uses could be found through utilization of modern technology or scientific techniques (e.g. PCR). Be sure to compare older methods to these more current techniques and how modern techniques aid scientists in gathering more or better data. Note that modern technology does not need to be strictly scientific equipment, but can also include any piece of technology that is used in the modern world that was not available during the age of Darwin.

Fossil Confirmation of Evolution

On page 96, Mr. Coyne notes that we can usually tell how an organism evolved over time by looking at the fossils in that area. Two of the examples he gives are the fossils of kangaroos that resemble modern-day kangaroos in Australia, and the armadillos (unique in that they have a carapace of bony armor) that match very closely the glyptodonts, ancient armored mammals. What are some other examples of ancient fossilized organisms that resemble fairly closely their modern-day counterparts (their descendants)? What factors might contribute to the similarities that the descendants of the organisms have to their ancestors? What themes of biology can you connect these factors and reasons to?