"Missing link" is a non-scientific term for a hypothetical or recently-discovered transitional fossil. It is often used in popular science and in the media for any new transitional form. The term originated to describe the hypothetical intermediate form in the evolutionary series of anthropoid ancestors to anatomically modern humans (hominization). The term was influenced by the pre-Darwinian evolutionary theory of the Great Chain of Being and the now-outdated notion (orthogenesis) that simple organisms are more primitive than complex organisms. The term "missing link" has been supported by geneticists since evolutionary trees only have data at the tips and nodes of their branches; the rest is inference and not evidence of fossils. However, it has fallen out of favor with anthropologists because it implies the evolutionary process is a linear phenomenon and that forms originate consecutively in a chain. Instead, last common ancestor is preferred since this does not have the connotation of linear evolution, as evolution is a branching process. There is no singular missing link. The scarcity of transitional fossils can be attributed to the incompleteness of the fossil record. (Wikipedia).
PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to http://to.pbs.org/DonateEons ↓ More info below ↓ The myth of the Missing Link--the idea that there must be a specimen that partly resembles an ape but also partly resembles a modern human--is persistent. Bu
From playlist Human Evolution Learning Playlist
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonate Ready to untangle the branches of the human family tree? Part 1 of our special series on Human Ancestry. Watch it all: http://bit.ly/OKTBSHuman ↓↓↓More info and source
From playlist Be Smart - LATEST EPISODES!
The Future of Human Evolution | What Darwin Didn't Know
Thanks to currently-existing technology and medicine, future humans could have larger heads and extensive robotic implants. In other words, evolution could be handed over from nature to science. Consult some old sci-fi novels and grab your art supplies; that classic "monkey-to-human evolut
From playlist Biology and Health
We once shared the planet with Neanderthals and other human species. Some of our relatives may have had tools, language and culture. Why did we thrive while they perished? Join evolutionary biologists, geneticists and anthropologists as they share profound insights about the origin of man
From playlist Science Shorts and Explainers
Evolution FAILS in the Human Body
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From playlist Be Smart - LATEST EPISODES!
Who Says Humans Are Unique, Anyway?
While humans sure seem unique, there is no biological definition of human uniqueness, explains explorer and paleoanthropologist Lee Berger in this clip from the 2015 World Science Festival program “The Planet of the Humans: The Leap to the Top.” And as fossils continue to reveal more and m
From playlist Biology
Human evolution (2), overview of methods.
This video shows genetic data illustrating the relationships of the great apes and discusses taphonomy, the science and study of fossilization. General trends in human evolution and uniquely human traits are then discussed.
From playlist TAMU: Bio 312 - Evolution | CosmoLearning Biology
NOVA | Becoming Human (Part 3): Last Human Standing
Many human species once shared the globe. Why do we alone remain? Becoming Human: Last Human Standing airs Wednesday, August 31, 2011 on PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/becoming-human-part-3.html Watch Part 1 and 2 of Becoming Human in full on our website.
From playlist Evolution
Common Misconceptions About Evolution
Evolution is particularly vulnerable to misunderstandings around the scientific language. SciShow clears up some confusing language! Learn more about epigenetics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp1bZEUgqVI Hosted by: Hank Green ---------- Support SciShow by becoming a patron on Patreon:
From playlist Uploads
Bringing Light Into the Dark – How Small Fish Deal with Big Change - N. Rohner - 1/12/2015
View all presentations from Caltech's Systems Developmental Biology Faculty Hiring Symposium held in Pasadena, CA, on January 12, 2015: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_xPU5epJddgSWJUr2DfVYVWs_YHH2SD Produced in association with Caltech Academic Media Technologies. © 2015 Califor
From playlist Talks and Seminars
Does the Theory of Evolution Really Matter?
Support Stated Clearly on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/statedclearly Students who may be disinterested or uncomfortable with the science of evolution often wonder why it is worth their time and effort to understand. Stated Clearly and Emory University's Center for Science Education ha
From playlist Most popular from Stated Clearly & Friends
Stuff They Don't Want You to Know - Human Evolution
In some parts of the world, evolution can be a sticky subject. But what do we know about it? Are humans still evolving? And, if so, what exactly are we becoming? Listen in to learn more about the future of evolution. http://howstuffworks.com http://facebook.com/ConspiracyStuff http://twit
From playlist Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
New Evidence Could Rewrite the History of Human Bipedalism
You might want to take a seat for this one: humans walked on two feet way earlier than we previously thought. » Subscribe to Seeker! http://bit.ly/subscribeseeker » Watch more Elements! http://bit.ly/ElementsPlaylist » Visit our shop at http://shop.seeker.com While many of us likely walk
From playlist Elements | Seeker
There's Proof of Evolution Hiding in Your DNA
Learn more about your personal DNA story by going to https://23andMe.com/okay Don't miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub ↓↓↓ More info and sources below ↓↓↓ Humans are special, and we got that way thanks to evolution and natural selection. The proof is right there
From playlist Be Smart - LATEST EPISODES!
Mr Bruff's Sunday Series Episode 2: Where did Life Come From?
Buy my revision guides in paperback on Amazon*: Mr Bruff’s Guide to GCSE English Language https://amzn.to/2GvPrTV Mr Bruff’s Guide to GCSE English Literature https://amzn.to/2POt3V7 AQA English Language Paper 1 Practice Papers https://amzn.to/2XJR4lD Mr Bruff’s Guide to ‘Macbeth’ htt
From playlist GCSE & A Level Religious Studies
Reacting to iamLucid's Garbage Anti-Evolution Video
What in the Sam Hill is this? Dave is doing a reaction video? How can this be? Well, a number of people had directed me to a really terrible anti-evolution apologetics video made by a channel named "iamLucid". Upon taking a quick glance I decided that it did not merit the effort of a full
From playlist Debunks/Discussions/Debates
Ancient Aliens: Proof of Bigfoot Discovered in Massive Fossil (Season 4)
Ancient astronaut theorists believe that extraterrestrial interference might have impacted the way humans evolved, in this clip from Season 4, "Aliens and Bigfoot." Watch all new episodes of Ancient Aliens, returning soon, and stay up to date on all of your favorite The HISTORY Channel sh
From playlist Ancient Aliens: Official Series Playlist | New Episodes Fridays at 9/8c | History
In the first mini-lecture, we begin by appreciating the history of human evolution. To do so, we cover Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, and the three parameters that determine whether a species will evolve over time. The evolution of humans to the modern version we know t
From playlist Biology
Will Tesla’s AI Become Dangerous?
Recently Tesla demonstrated their Tesla Humanoid Robot as part of the “Tesla AI Day”. To be honest the demonstration itself wasn’t all that impressive, we have seen more astonishing things before - robots doing parkour and Disney’s Robot Spiderman spring to mind. Tesla’s robot, called Opti
From playlist Case Studies