The Macroevolution section focuses on large-scale historical processes that lead to the formation of major taxonomic groups: genera, families, classes, and phyla. Unlike microevolution, these changes occur over millions of years, yet they define the modern appearance of the biosphere.
In this block, we analyze three key topics. Speciation explains the mechanisms by which new, reproductively isolated species arise from a single population. Macroevolution reveals general patterns and directions of life's development (aromorphoses, idioadaptations, general degeneration). Phylogeny helps reconstruct the historical kinship of organisms and build their evolutionary tree.
During medical school classes and exams, examiners most frequently ask about modes of speciation (allopatric and sympatric) and request examples of aromorphoses in vertebrates. Pay special attention to the rules of phylogeny—this is the fundamental basis for understanding human comparative anatomy and embryology, as well as the mechanisms behind congenital malformations.