Evolution

∞ generated and posted on 2020.12.19 ∞

The characteristics of organisms tend to change through time, and above the level of individuals this change in organism genetics we call evolution.

Organic evolution occurs because (1) heredity is imperfect, (2) biases tend accumulate, and (3) accidents happen. For appreciating animal evolution, it helps to have an appreciation of both anatomy and developmental biology, and though perhaps less obvious the same applies to plants. It helps as well to have an appreciation of molecular evolution, and this is especially so toward study of the macroevolution of microorganisms as for them anatomy and development are less informative processes.

The above video considers the question, What is life? It then considers, and mostly covers, the question, How did life originally arise?

The above video provides a simple, straightforward introduction to the very basics of the subject/concept of evolution. There is a slight inaccuracy, though, where the suggestion (around 6:15) of all evolution being random should be replaced with a suggestion instead that all spontaneously occurring mutations are random (or, for that matter, genetic drift). That is, selection is not random.

The above video discusses the history of thinking about evolution with emphasis on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace.

The above video provides a nice introduction to the ideas of evolution.

http://oyc.yale.edu/ecology-and-evolutionary-biology/eeb-122/lecture-1

The above video provides an introductory lecture covering the rise of the ideas of evolution and microevolution.

The above video discusses the evolution of the eye by means of surprisingly fast natural selection.

The above video describes a crocodile with teeth that are differentiated like those of mammals! (And yes, apparently I have this video in two places, lecture and lab. Can't do anything about that for now, so sorry about that!)

More on convergent evolution, in the above video in terms of crabs, or at least crab-like crustaceans.

The above video is a nice overview of what evolution, well, isn't.

When amphibians ruled the Earth the Temnospondyls.

When crocodiles rather than dinosaurs ruled the Earth, but looked like dinosaurs.

The above video provides an overview of the evolution of whales.

The above video provides an overview of the evolution of whales in more detail.

The above video provides an overview of the evolution of whales in yet more detail, in this case focusing on extant or only recently extinct species. Really fascinating diversity.

The above video provides an overview of the evolution of horses.

The above video considers not just mini mammoths but, without actually saying the word, biogeography as well.

Evolution of Homer.

The above video that does a good job of laying out the various "cards" underlying especially the concept of common descent.

The above video relays the story of the Universe, starting with Big Bang and ending, quite literally, with us, and more or less gets things right.

The above video is just a wonder overview of the evolution of hummingbirds.