title: Are we alone? Lessons from the evolution of life on earth.
abstract: The understanding of life on Earth that we have obtained from the science of evolutionary biology offers clues to the qustion of what life might be like if found elsewhere. After presenting the basics of the evolutionary process, I discuss the factors that determine the outcome of evolution, the role of key innovations and extinction in evolution, and whether the evolution of human life is inevitable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742, USA. sv47@umail.umd.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Via
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D005075:Biological Evolution; D018534:Earth, Planet; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006801:Humans; D019369:Life; D012641:Selection, Genetic