Why Evolution Is True - Jerry Coyne

A compelling discussion of the evidence for evolution, from geology, genetics, morphology, archeology, and more. He talks about interesting issues I hadn’t even realized were problems. Like, if evolution is incremental, how do different species arise out of the same parent species? The answer is that one group of individuals become isolated from the rest, and then the two groups can evolve separately. This makes a prediction: a species should be most closely related to another species that is separated from them by some kind of geographical barrier. And in fact, this is true. There are seven species of snapping shrimp on the west side of the Isthmus of Panama, and seven species of snapping shrimp on the east side. And the closest relative of each species of snapping shrimp on the west side is one of the seven species on the east side of the Isthmus of Panama. Which is just what you would expect if, 3 million years ago, there were seven species of snapping shrimp near Panama, then the Isthmus of Panama rose out of the water, separating each species into two groups, which then evolved independently of each other.

I know that people who believe evolution is false are not really influenced by the evidence, but I loved learning about the evidence. It made me feel so much smarter and more connected to the natural world.

Why Evolutions Is True
Jerry Coyne
2009

Available from Amazon