Final answer:
The five major developments in science that set the stage for Darwin's theory of evolution are the discovery of fossils, taxonomy, geological uniformitarianism, population genetics, and comparative anatomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The five major developments in science that set the stage for Darwin's theory of evolution are:
- Discovery of Fossils: Fossils provided evidence of past life forms and showed that species could go extinct.
- Taxonomy: The classification of species helped identify similarities and differences among organisms.
- Geological Uniformitarianism: The idea that geological processes occurring in the past are similar to those that occur today supported the concept of a changing Earth.
- Population Genetics: The study of genetic variation in populations provided insights into how traits are passed down through generations.
- Comparative Anatomy: Comparisons of the anatomical structures of different species helped reveal common ancestry and relationships.