Arguing for Evolution

Sehoya Cotner, PhD, is associate professor of teaching in the biology program at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.Randy Moore, PhD, is professor in the biology program at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

The book is a compelling and well rounded work. The authors have succeeded in creating a resource that clearly presents the scientific evidence supporting evolution using recognisable arguments and motifs as well as more unusual examples drawn from findings of both historic and contemporary research. Arguing for Evolution is a comprehensive and extremely accessible book which is highly recommended for public, school, and academic libraries, especially those linked to biology or evolutionary science.

• Quick A-Z Guide to the EvidenceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Evolution as a Predictive Science1 Understanding the Natural World: Evolution and the Process of ScienceDefinitions of Science and Scientific TheoryDefinition of EvolutionHow Evolution OccursAdaptation and Natural SelectionNatural Selection and FitnessProximate versus Ultimate CausationProducts of EvolutionTransitional FormsComplexityExtinctionArtificial SelectionAdaptive RadiationHomologous and Analogous FeaturesExaptationsVestigial TraitsEvolution in Action: The Modern Threat of Antibiotic ResistanceSummary2 Age of EarthPredictionTheories of Earth's AgeScriptural Claims about Earth's AgeUsing Seas and Salt to Estimate Earth's AgeSedimentation Rates as a Measure of TimeGeological Formations as Evidence of Earth's HistoryEarth's Age as a Function of TemperatureRadioactivity and Radiometric DatingRadioactivityRadiometric DatingWhat Isotopes Occur in Nature?Using Radioactivity to Determine the Ages of RocksOther Radiometric MethodsFission-Track DatingThermoluminescencePaleomagnetismCreationists' Claims about Radiometric DatingThe Age of EarthSummary3 FossilsPredictionsWe See Direct Evidence of the History of Life on EarthHow and Where Do Fossils Form?Is the Fossil Record Complete?The Fossil Record Can Be Matched with Geologic Evidence to Describe the History of Life on EarthFossils in the Sediments and BiostratigraphyCreationists' Objections to BiostratigraphyFossilized InvertebratesEvolutionary Lineages for VertebratesThe Fossil Record, "Sudden Appearance," and the Cambrian ExplosionThe Fossil Record Includes Transitional Forms Linking Different Groups of OrganismsMissing LinksTransitional FormsArchaeopteryx: From Dinosaurs to BirdsTiktaalik: From Fish to Land VertebratesEnvironmental Changes and Competition Inherent in Natural Selection Produce ExtinctionsFossils as Evidence of ExtinctionCuvier's Theory of ExtinctionBackground ExtinctionMass ExtinctionThe K-T ExtinctionThe Permian-Triassic ExtinctionHuman-Caused ExtinctionSummary4 BiogeographyPredictionsDarwin's Observations of Life's DiversityLife Is Extremely Diverse, and This Diversity Is Influenced by Geologic HistoryEarth's BiodiversityBiogeographyEarly Theories of BiogeographySpecies That Are Most Alike Usually Live Near Each Other Geographically, Regardless of Differences in EnvironmentBiogeography in the Age of ExplorationBiogeography and GeologyMajor, Long-term Changes in the Distribution of Life's Diversity Are Influenced by Plate TectonicsContinental GeographyContinental DriftGeologic Evidence of Continental MovementPaleomagnetismRadiometric Dating of the SeafloorPangaea and BiogeographyTectonic Movement and EvolutionDifferent Species in Similar Habitats Often Evolve Similar AdaptationsConvergent EvolutionIsolated Habitats Such as Oceanic Islands Are Populated by Descendants of Organisms from the Nearest MainlandContinental and Oceanic IslandsColonization of Oceanic IslandsIsland Species and Mainland SpeciesAdaptive RadiationUnique Features of Island BiogeographyCreationists' Explanations for BiogeographySummary5 Molecular Evidence for EvolutionPredictionsCommon Ancestry Is Revealed by a Common Hereditary Material (DNA or RNA)Related Organisms Reveal Their Genetic Similarity through Protein SimilarityAntigen SpecificityProtein RelatednessUbiquitous Proteins Exist in Seemingly Disparate TaxaUbiquitous ProteinsCytochrome cHemoglobinOrganisms with More Recent Common Ancestry Have More Hereditary Material in Common Than Organisms Further Removed EvolutionarilyDNA HybridizationGenetic Sequence DataGenomes and Genetic TimelinesComparing the Coding Regions of Ubiquitous Proteins Confirms Common AncestryGenes as Evidence of Common DescentHeat-Shock Proteins and AdaptationOrganisms with Common Ancestry Share Randomly Generated Transposable Elements and Homologous GenesTransposable Elements and Shared AncestryGene DuplicationShared Ancestry Is Inferred through the Occurrence of Vestigial Molecular Elements, or PseudogenesThe Origin of PseudogenesPseudogenes as Evidence of Common InheritanceShared Ancestry Is Revealed within a Lineage Showing Evidence of a Shared Viral PathogenEndogenous Retroviruses and Common DescentSummary6 Anatomical Evidence for EvolutionPredictionsThere Are Anatomical Similarities among Related OrganismsComparative AnatomyHomologous StructuresStructural Similarities in PlantsAnalogous Structures and Convergent EvolutionOrganisms Possess Vestigial Structures That Serve as Evolutionary BaggageVestigial Structures as Remnants of Ancestral OrganismsCreationists' Criticisms of Vestigial Organs as Evidence of EvolutionThere Are Developmental Similarities among OrganismsDevelopmental SimilaritiesEmbryological SimilaritiesDevelopment and Embryology as Evidence of Common AncestryThe Study of Evolutionary DevelopmentHomeotic GenesDevelopmental VariationEye Development and Animal EvolutionSummary7 Conflict and Cooperation Part I: BehaviorPredictionsBehaviorOrganisms Exhibit Behaviors That Increase Their Chances of SurvivalTropic or Taxic BehaviorMigrationThermoregulationStorage and RetrievalBehavioral Adaptations That Enhance Survival Are Selected over Those That Do Not, Even When a Cost Is Incurred by Other Individuals in the PopulationEgg Eviction by BirdsConspecific InfanticideBehaviors, Like Other Measurable Adaptations, Can Be Artificially SelectedExperimental Manipulation of Behavioral TraitsHeritability of BehaviorsIndividuals Behave Preferentially toward Kin When There Is Likely to Be an Inclusive Fitness BenefitAltruistic Behavior and Kin SelectionHelpingAlarm CallingSuicideWorker CastesAltruism by Reciprocal ExchangeIndividuals Exhibit Behaviors That Serve Simply to Acquire MatesSexual SelectionIntrasexual CompetitionIntersexual Selection and BehaviorTheories of Female-Choice MechanicsThere Is an Adaptive Advantage in Behaviors That Help Ensure ParentageCompetitive SpermCooperative SpermSperm Competition and BehaviorIn a Conflict between Individual Survival and Reproductive Potential, Reproductive Potential WinsDestructive Reproductive Behavior in an Evolutionary ContextParents Behave Preferentially toward Those Offspring Most Likely to Augment the Parents' Inclusive FitnessDifferential Treatment of OffspringParental Favoritism of the SexesSiblicideSummary8 Conflict and Cooperation Part II: CoevolutionPredictionsCoevolutionEcological RelevancePrey Species Possess Ecologically Relevant Adaptations against PredationColoration, Mimicry, and Warning SignalsToxic Emissions and SecretionsInfluence of Predation PressureThird-Party ExploitationPredators Possess Ecologically Relevant Adaptations That Allow Them to Conquer PreyColoration in PredatorsOdor Used to Attract PreySelection for Predatory AbilityOrganisms Exploit Different Ecological Niches to Reduce the Negative Effects of CompetitionCharacter Displacement and Niche PartitioningDisplacement from Antagonistic CoevolutionDiversifying CoevolutionParasites Evolve Strategies That Allow Them to Exploit Host ResourcesReciprocal AdaptationsSelection-Driven Virulence in ParasitesParasite-Mediated Behavior and Coevolutionary EscalationHost Species Evolve Ways to Minimize the Costs of Being ParasitizedParasite-Host Coevolution in Avian Brood ParasitesSpecificity of Hosts and Intensity of Reciprocal AdaptationsHost ToleranceHost Responses to ParasitismSymbiont Species That Serve a Life-History Function Are Rewarded and ContinueMutualismObligate MutualismMutualism in the Oceans and AtmosphereRewarded Symbionts Are Penalized for CheatingPenalties in the Cleaner-Fish SymbiosisPenalties in the Yucca-Yucca Moth SymbiosisSummary9 Human EvolutionPredictionsHuman Evolution: Biogeographic EvidenceSites of OriginDarwin's Prediction: The African Origins of HumansHuman Evolution: Fossil EvidenceDart's Discovery of Hominin FossilsOther Hominin Discoveries in AfricaAfrica as the Birthplace of HumanityHuman Evolution: Molecular EvidenceUniversal Homology, Ubiquitous Proteins, and Human EvolutionFossil Genes in the Human GenomeHumans and the MC1R GeneHumans and Endogenous RetrovirusesHuman Evolution: Anatomical and Developmental EvidenceVestigial Body-PartsHuman Development and Evolutionary HistoryHuman Behavior from an Evolutionary PerspectiveBehavior as an Adaptation in HumansKin Preference in Human BehaviorMating in the Evolved HumanPaternity Assurance in the Human MaleParental Favoritism as an AdaptationHuman Evolution: Coevolutionary EvidenceThe Shared Evolution of Humans and PlasmodiumCoevolution with Pathogens and HIV ResistanceCoevolution with Pathogens and Urban LivingHuman Exploitation of Third-Party OrganismsThe Coevolved Human and Mate ChoiceHuman Coevolution and Lactose ToleranceSummaryAppendix 1. Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (1859, first edition), Chapters IV ("Natural Selection") and XIV ("Recapitulation and Conclusion")Appendix 2. The Geologic TimescaleAppendix 3. Major Species of Known HomininsGlossaryReferencesIndex