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'''Macroevolution''' is the theory that [[natural selection]] can, given enough time, lead to the creation of new clades which are groups of organisms consisting of a single common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor.  This process requires that the genetic material of an organism must be added to. One method this could be produced by is the "duplication and divergance", of genes <ref>From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design

{{stub}}'''Macroevolution''' is the hypothesized process within [[evolution]] that can lead to the creation of new clades, groups of organisms consisting of a single common ancestor, and all the descendants of that ancestor.  [[Paleontology]], [[developmental biology]], and [[comparative genomics]] contribute most of the empirical evidence for the known patterns and processes that can be classified as macroevolution.

by Sean B. Carroll, Jennifer K. Grenier, Scott D. Weatherbee</ref>. Macroevolution also requires a large number of beneficial mutations. Creationists claim that scientific data regarding mutations causing the significant changes necessary for macroevolution is extremely damaging to the macroevolutionary position.[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/mutations.asp][http://www.trueorigin.org/mutations01.asp]

 

 

:[[natural selection]] - is the mechanism by which allele frequency within a population changes over time due to genetic variation and selection pressures.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIENaturalSelection.shtml</ref>

:[[genetic drift]] - is the statistical effect that results from the influence that chance has on the survival of alleles.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIDGeneticdrift.shtml</ref>

:[[sexual selection]] - is the hypothesis proposed by Charles Darwin that states that the frequency of traits can increase or decrease depending on the attractiveness of the bearer.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIE3Sexualselection.shtml</ref>

:[[neutral evolution]] - is the vast majority of molecular differences are selectively "neutral." The molecular changes represented by these differences do not influence the fitness of the individual organism. As a result, these genomic features are neither subject to, nor explicable by, natural selection.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIIE5bNeutraltheory.shtml</ref>

:[[allopatric speciation]] - is when a population splits into two geographically isolated allopatric populations then undergo genotypic and/or phenotypic divergence as they become subjected to dissimilar selective pressures or they independently undergo genetic drift.<ref>http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/Speciation.html</ref><ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/VC1bAllopatric.shtml</ref>

:[[peripatric speciation]] - is when new species are formed in isolated, small peripheral populations which are prevented from exchanging genes with the main population.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/VC1cPeripatric.shtml</ref>

:[[parapatric speciation]] - is when the zones of two diverging populations are separate but do overlap.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/VC1dParapatric.shtml</ref>

:[[sympatric speciation]]- is when species diverge while inhabiting the same place.<ref>http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/VC1eSympatric.shtml</ref>

 

 

Macroevolution requires a large number of beneficial mutations. Creationists claim that scientific data regarding mutations causing the significant changes necessary for macroevolution is extremely damaging to the macroevolutionary position.<ref>[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/mutations.asp Answers in Genesis - Mutations]</ref><ref>[http://www.trueorigin.org/mutations01.asp Answers in Genesis - Mutations part 2]</ref>

 

 

==See also==

==See also==

[[Microevolution]]

:[[Microevolution]]

:[[Theory of Evolution]]

==References==

==References==

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