Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

What is Evolutionary History?

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

Synteny and Evolution

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...

What is Natural Selection?

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same journal

Americans' perspectives on forensic and scientific genomic biobanks: Engaging with new technologies for democratic decision-making.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

Same journal

International Cooperation & Assistance in the Biological & Toxin Weapons Convention: Strengthening BWC Assurance through Article X.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

Same journal

Toward individualistic reproduction: Solving the fertility crisis could require a further marginalization of men.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

Same journal

Managerial imperatives for health-security information sharing: Balancing confidentiality and utility amid a deepening interface.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

Same journal

Conspiracy thinking in American politics.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

Same journal

Gain-of-function virology as dual-use research of concern: Variations of securitization in the United States.

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Darwin and the Declaration.

S Adam Seagrave¹

¹Department of Political Science, University of Notre Dame, 217 O'Shaughnessy Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 , USA. sseagrav@nd.edu

Politics and the Life Sciences : the Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences

|December 30, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores the conflict between the Declaration of Independence's view of human creation and Darwinian evolution. It argues that significant obstacles remain in reconciling human rights theories with evolutionary science.

More Related Videos

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

Area of Science:

Political Philosophy
Evolutionary Biology
Human Rights Theory

Background:

The Declaration of Independence posits unique human creation, seemingly at odds with Darwinian evolution.
Historical debates have questioned the compatibility of human rights theories with evolutionary accounts.

Purpose of the Study:

To re-examine and strengthen arguments regarding the contradiction between human rights theories and Darwinian evolution.
To address the implications of this potential conflict for normative political theory.

Main Methods:

Analysis of the Declaration of Independence's core claims, separated from theological and philosophical doctrines.
Critical review of recent attempts to reconcile Darwinian theory with human rights.

Main Results:

A potential contradiction persists between a distilled formulation of the Declaration's claims and Darwinian evolutionary theory.
Significant obstacles hinder the compatibility of Darwinian evolution with moral norms like human rights.

Conclusions:

The apparent conflict between human rights foundations and evolutionary science warrants concern for political theorists.
Further original arguments are needed to fortify the reconciliation of human rights with Darwinian evolution.