Three Propositions of Modern Evolutionary Theory

1. Populations of organisms have evolved.

2. New forms of life are continually generated by the splitting of a single lineage into two or more lineages = "speciation". "Tree of life".

3. Most evolutionary change is probably driven by natural selection = individuals carrying genes that better suit them to the current environment leave more offspring than individuals carrying genes that make them less adapted.

On to Evidence

Back to Evolution via Natural Selection -- Back to annotated version

(This material is coming from Jerry Coyne's article in the New Republic. A "cliff notes" version is available on this site as a PDF.)