“Nothing in Biology Makes Sense”: Dobzhansky 1973.

modern theory of uniformitarianism: Charles Lyell (1797–1875) largely expanded on the concept that geological changes are the result of the continuous accumulation of tiny transformations over immeasurably long periods of time, in his influential book Principles of Geology. Lyell 1830–33.

Some “living fossils” such as the lamprey: Classified as Priscomyzon riniensis. Gess et al. 2006.

the concept of a common ancestor: This pillar of Darwinian evolution has been confirmed by many spectacular findings. For instance, the discoveries of fossils of feathered dinosaurs, such as the Microraptor gui and the Mei long, are consistent with the idea that birds evolved from reptiles.

Darwin’s solution to the diversity problem: Good descriptions of speciation are Schilthuizen 2001, and Coyne and Orr 2004.