How did the discovery of DNA prove that Darwin’s theory of evolution was correct and how does it change the way we view evolution today and into the future?
The theory that Darwin stated was an absurd one that everyone was skeptical about, at first. All of the living things on Earth shared a common ancestor, a prehistoric animal, the fish. Fish then evolved into all the creatures we have today. They did this through adaptation and mutation, new species blossomed as they evolved to survive the environments they were put in. Therefore, all species are related to each other because we share that common ancestor.
Once DNA was discovered, it proved that Darwin’s crazy theory, wasn’t so crazy. Darwin stated that we humans evolved from apes, and when the DNA was studied, an almost-perfect match was found between human DNA and ape DNA. We are in fact, very similar, genetically, to apes, so we must have had some state of our evolution through them. Furthermore, he was also correct about how all species were evolved from fish. When scientists discovered the Tiktaalik, a prehistoric fish, the species showed it was an underwater fish with four-legs. Therefore, we can conclude that the Tiktaalik was the transitional phase between other species and fish, and that it further explains how fish were able to get up on land, and evolve into what we are today. 
Protista
Plasmodium falciparum
This parasite is a unicellular organism that causes malaria in humans. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, and is responsible for about half of human malaria cases, causing one million deaths every year.
Theileria parva
This parasite causes East Coast fever in cattle, a disease that is very harmful to parts of Africa. It has genes that allow itself to enter a host, attach itself to white blood cells, and then take them over.
Fungi
Cantharellus cibarius
Chanterelle mushrooms are a species of wild mushrooms that can be safely eaten. They are usually either orange or yellow and have a unique fruity smell and taste. They are common in many places, such as Europe, North America, Central America, Asia, and Africa. Chanterelles tend to grow in clusters in mossy areas of the confierous forest, but they can also be found in birch forests and beech forests.
Rhizopus stolonifer
This type of mold is more commonly known as “Black Bread Mold”. It is one of the most common fungi in the world, and has a global distribution. It decomposes stored food, and it can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
Archaebacteria
Pyrococcus furiosus
This species was first discovered in Vulcano City, Italy. It thrives best in extremely high temperatures.
Thermoplasma acidophilum
Also thrives in high temperatures, and grows optimally at 56 degrees C. It doesn’t have cell wall, so the cell membrane is directly exposed to the outside.
Eubacteria
Yersinia pestis
Yersinia pestis is very harmful and is involved with many forms of plauge. Ex: pneumic, septicemic, and bubonic. It was transferred through China by rats on steamboats and the diseases spread from there. This deadly bacteria is related to the Plauge of Justinian, the Black Death, and the Third Pandemic, therefore it’s safe to say, it’s caused a lot of damage to us humans.
Streptobacillus moniliformis
S. moniliformis causes diseases like Rat Bite Fever and Haaverhill Fever, usually transmitted through the bite of a rat. However, some people are infected by drinking infected water or close contact with rats. The diseases cause high fevers, rashes and hemorrhaging vesicles.
Plants
Marchantia polymorpha
More commonly known as the liverwort, this plant has a wide distribution around the world and has many sub-species. It is found worldwide and can thrive in both arctic and tropical climates. It grows on moist soil, often on bogs and banks of streams, and in man made habitats such as greenhouses and gardens.
Amorphophallus titanum
This plant has the nickname of “The Corpse Flower” because of it’s unique smell, described as “rotting flesh”. The plant produces this smell in order for beetles and flies to be attracted to it and pollinate it. They only grow in Sumatra, Indonesia, on limestone hills and in openings of rain-forests.
Animals
Chlamyphorus truncatus
The Pink Fairy Armadillo is the smallest species of Armadillo. It is desert-adapted and native to Argentina’s sandy dunes and scrubby grasslands. It’s diet is mostly composed of insects, worms, snails, and plants. They do not live well in captivity, and are on a decline in population.
Gypaetus barbatus
The bearded vulture is a unique bird of prey that lives in the mountainous ranges of Europe, Africa, and Tibet. It’s diet consists of mostly bone, and when hunting prey, it disregards it’s meat and eats it’s bone marrow, instead. It is the only bird that can live off of bone marrow, and it’s teeth and mouth have adapted to be able to swallow and chew through large bones. The species is locally threatened, with probably fewer than 10,000 pairs worldwide.
