Since the late 19th century, there have been many important discoveries about the mechanisms of
inheritance and evolution. These have occurred mainly as a result of three research
developments:
| 1. | the invention of more powerful microscopes and other precision research tools |
|---|---|
| 2. | the use of short lived organisms such as fruit flies and bacteria for breeding experiments |
| 3. | the rigorous application of the scientific method |
We now
understand that natural selection is just one
of a number of processes that can lead to evolution. This knowledge has resulted in
the development of a more complete understanding of genetic changes that is usually
described as the synthetic
theory of
evolution. This is essentially a combination of Charles Darwin's concept of
natural selection, Gregor Mendel's basic understanding of genetic inheritance,
along with evolutionary theories developed since the
early 20th century by
field biologists, population geneticists, and
more recently by molecular biologists.
The hottest area of research concerning the mechanisms of evolution today is
in evolutionary developmental biology (commonly known as evo-devo).
It focuses on discovering and understanding genetic changes that alter
embryonic development and lead to new features in species lines.