Opening Darwin's black box: teaching evolution through developmental genetics.
When biologists are asked to discuss the evidence for evolution at public forums, they usually use well-established microevolutionary examples. Although these examples show the efficacy of evolution within species, they often leave audiences susceptable to the arguments of creationists who deny that evolution can create new structures and species. Recent studies from evolutionary developmental biology are beginning to provide case studies that specifically address these concerns. This perspective presents some of this new evidence and provides a framework in which to explain homology and phylogeny to such audiences.
Gilbert
Scott F
SF
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, USA. sgilber1@swarthmore.edu
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000193:education*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005823:Genetics / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history; D049672:History, 19th Century; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D012641:Selection, Genetic