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

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...

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...

Phylogeny

Phylogeny

Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire kingdom.

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.

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.

Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

MBE for Surrey vet school professor.

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

Going the extra mile: BVA Awards 2026.

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

Great Britain's AI prevention zones lifted.

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

RCVS announces its 2026 award winners.

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

Illegal wildlife trade: the Facebook problem.

The Veterinary record·2026

Same author

Why are cats prone to kidney disease?

The Veterinary record·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Published on: June 21, 2014

Shared ancestry: using embryology to discover human evolution.

The Veterinary Record

|April 29, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Alice Roberts discussed human beings as animals, highlighting shared ancestry with other species through embryological development. This comparative anatomy offers insights into evolutionary biology.

More Related Videos

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery

Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery

Published on: December 13, 2007

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Dissection and Downstream Analysis of Zebra Finch Embryos at Early Stages of Development

Published on: June 21, 2014

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery

Derivation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Immunosurgery

Published on: December 13, 2007

Area of Science:

Comparative anatomy
Evolutionary biology
Developmental biology

Background:

Alice Roberts, a clinical anatomist and professor, delivered the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) lecture.
The lecture explored the concept of humans as 'just another animal' within the broader biological context.

Discussion:

The talk emphasized shared ancestry between humans and other animals.
Embryological development was presented as a key area demonstrating this evolutionary connection.
This perspective challenges anthropocentrism by placing humans within the natural world.

Key Insights:

Embryological similarities provide tangible evidence of common descent.
Understanding human development through an evolutionary lens deepens our appreciation of biology.
Comparative embryology is a powerful tool for illustrating evolutionary relationships.

Outlook:

Further research into comparative embryology can illuminate specific evolutionary pathways.
Educational outreach in science can benefit from emphasizing shared ancestry.
Integrating evolutionary principles into anatomical studies offers a more holistic view of life.