17. How does biogeography support the theory of evolution? 18. How does molecular biology support the theory of evolution?

17. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Biogeography supports the theory of evolution in several ways. For example, the distribution of species on different continents can be explained by the theory of continental drift and the subsequent isolation of populations. This isolation can lead to the evolution of new species, as populations adapt to their specific environments. Additionally, the presence of similar species in different parts of the world can be explained by the theory of evolution, as these species may have evolved from a common ancestor and then migrated to different regions.<br /><br />18. Molecular biology is the study of the structure and function of biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins. Molecular biology supports the theory of evolution in several ways. For example, the comparison of DNA sequences between different species can reveal similarities and differences that can be used to infer evolutionary relationships. The more similar the DNA sequences between two species, the more closely related they are likely to be. Additionally, the study of molecular biology has revealed the existence of vestigial genes, which are genes that are no longer functional but are still present in an organism's genome. The presence of these vestigial genes can be explained by the theory of evolution, as they may have been functional in ancestral species but have since lost their function.