Encyclopedia of Evolution

Evolutionary science is not only one of the greatest breakthroughs of modern science, but also an area that draws a great deal of interest on the part of students and the reading public. Perhaps more than any other scientific area, evolutionary science has caused us all to question what we are, where we came from, and how we relate to the rest of the universe. "Encyclopedia of Evolution" contains more than 200 entries that span modern evolutionary science and the history of its development. This comprehensive volume clarifies many common misconceptions about evolution. For example, many people have grown up being told that the fossil record does not demonstrate an evolutionary pattern, and that there are many "missing links." In fact, most of these "missing links" have been found, and their modern representatives are often still alive today. The biographical entries represent evolutionary scientists within the United States who have had and continue to have a major impact on the broad outline of evolutionary science. The biographies chosen reflect the viewpoints of scientists working within the United States. Five essays that explore interesting questions resulting from studies in evolutionary science are included as well. The appendix consists of a summary of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species", which is widely considered to be the foundational work of evolutionary science and one of the most important books in human history.