Goals

• Understanding what evolution is.
• Being able to describe the most important events in the history of life.

Summary

• Evolution means the gradual development of species as a result of mutations and natural selection.
• The history of life can be studied by examining fossils.
• The history of life can be divided into four eras.
• The beginning of life:
  • The planet Earth was formed 4,6 billion years ago.
  • Multicellular organisms and sexual reproduction emerged during the end of the Precambrian era.
• The Paleozoic era:
  • The first plants and animals moved to land.
  • Vertebrates developed.
• The Mesozoic era:
  • The era of reptiles (such as dinosaurs).
  • Gymnosperm and angiosperm plants, birds, and mammals developed.
• The Cenozoic era:
  • Birds and mammals diversified and became more common.
  • Humans developed towards the end of the Cenozoic era.