Topic summary
Articulata Hypothesis
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Articulata (superphylum).
Theory of evolution
Darwin's theory of evolution had a large, yet often understated impact of the Articulata hypothesis. Cuvier's original Articulata hypothesis was based on his assumption that current species no longer evolved because to evolve would cause loss of integral structures necessary for the survival of the species. While the general acceptance of the theory of evolution weakened Cuvier's general theory of the unique ground-plans as the origin of modern taxa, it strengthened the Articulata hypothesis by organizing annelids and arthropods into a clade descended from a common segmented ancestor.