Chapter 4 builds upon the previous one by extending evolutionary theory to focus on macroevolution, particularly the origin and evolution of new species. The major focus of the chapter consists of three related aspects: the nature of species and how they change over time, frequent misconceptions about how macroevolution works, and the relationship between macroevolutionary change and the classification of living species.

The first part of this chapter covers speciation and other macroevolutionary patterns, focusing on the "birth" and "death" of new species. It outlines the nature of species and the process by which species change over time.

The second part of the chapter deals with popular misconceptions about the evolutionary process. It examines several frequent misconceptions about how macroevolution works and clarifies the process.

The third and last part of the chapter provides an understanding of biological classification methods and major schools of classification.