SCIENCE22 - Mass Extinctions Accelerated the Evolution of Life on Earth
I have long been fascinated by so called “mass extinction” events that killed off so many species over the course of the development of life on Earth. Recently, I became aware that these events, while devastating, may have provided opportunities for accelerated evolution and development of certain animal species, including humans. So that is the subject of this blog: the role of mass extinction events in the evolution of life on Earth. In a short introduction, I will discuss the mechanisms, or processes, that directly affect evolution. Then I will discuss the currently-accepted timeline of the development of life on Earth. Next, I will talk about the five major extinction events that had such a profound effect on development of life, noting when they occurred in the timeline, and their dramatic effect on evolution. Then I will discuss how these devastating events resulted in opportunities for new species to replace the ones that had died of...