EVOLUTION AND

CLASSIFICATION
Classification is the arrangement of
organisms into group based on similarities
and differences and also placing these
groups in a hierarchy according to their
evolutionary relationship in the following
order: Species Genus Family Order Class
Phylum Kingdom.

For such a classification, we need to

identify hierarchies of characteristics
between species. Characteristics are
physical, physical. Physiological, genetic
and behavioral features of organisms. On
the basis of similarities of these features,
organisms are grouped together or in
separate groups. Then these groups are
arranged o the basis of degree of
similarities in a systematic order.

Differences in characteristics in organisms

can be separated into two categories.

 TRACING EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIPS EVIDENCES OF
EVOLUTION
Evolution is a very slow
and gradual process. No
human being can see how
evolution takes place. The
occurrence of evolution is
supported directly or
indirectly by many kinds
of evidences. These are
drawn from Comparative
morphology, Anatomy,
Palaeontology, Genetics,
Embryology and Animal
distribution.
EVIDENCES FROM COMPARATIVE
ANATOMY
When organisms are grouped on the
basis of morphological and anatomical
similarities, they show their
relationship with each other and their
origin from some common ancestor.
The similarities are reflected by
homologous organs and analogous
organs.
Homologous:- These organs are
similar in origin and fundamental
structure but are different in function
and appearance. For example,
forelimbs of Frog and Lzard, wing of
Bird and arm of Man are homologous.
They have similar origin and same
basic anatomical structure.
Analogous:- These organs have
different origin and different basic
structural plan but have similar
appearance and perform similar
function. Modification of different
structures to perform a similar
function in unrelated organisms
supports evolution.
 EVIDENCES FROM

PALAEONTOLOGY
Fossils are preserved remains, impressions
or traces of plants and animals that lived in
the past. These are preserved in rocks, peat,
amber, lava or snow. Fossils provide direct
evidence of evolution. They are described as
the written documents of evolutionary
process. The study of fossils is called
palaeontttology, i.e, formation of fossils.
Usually, when organisms die, their bodies
get decomposed by bacterial action. But
their hard parts are left unaffected. Also in
certain exceptional cases, their bodies or
some parts get buried under sand or
trapped in hot mud, lava or amber, etc.
They are immediately cut off from the
environment and the oxygen and are
preserved as part of the rock. There are two
major prerequisites for fossils formation:

Immediate burial of dead body of the

organisms before decomposition starts.

No change in the earth crust which may

disturb formation of rock and of fossil
therein. Fossils are formed and deposited in
distinct layers of rocks one above the other.
Evidences for Evolution
from Fossils
Following facts about
evolution have been from
the study of fossil records:
Different types of organisms
have appeared at different
times. Some survived and
others have become extinct.
Fossils present in the bottom
rocks are simpler and
become more and more
complex in upper strata of
rocks. The most recent
fossils found in the
uppermost strata are highly
complex. This gradual
complexity in organisation
supports the concept of
evolution.
 Evolution of Eye
In organisms any complex
body organ cannot be
generated by a single gene
mutation. They are created by
nature bit by bit over many
generations. Evolution of eyes
provides an example of
evolution in stages or step by
step. The first and most
primitive eyes appeared in
flatworms (Planarians) in the
form of eye spots which could
simply detect light. Even
though so simple and so
primitive, these rudimentary
eyes provided a survival
advantage to them.
Methods used for tracing
Human Evolutionary
Relationships
Following tools were
used to trace
evolutionary
relationship between
prehuman fossils and
their ancestors:
1.Excavation of fossils
2.Determination of age
of fossils by radioactive
carbon dating method.
3.Tracing phylogenetic
relationship using DNA
sequencing.