Evolution

The Study of How Species

Change Over Time!
Evolutionary Theory

• Jean Baptise de Lamark (1744-

1829)
• 1809, proposed an explanation of
the origin of species in his book
Zoological Philosophy
1. The “needs” of an organism determined
the characteristics that evolved in the
organism
2. Useful characteristics acquired in their
This is can
lifetime called
beUse and Dissuse
transferred to it’s offspring
Use and Disuse
••No
How
silly,
didhethe
didn’t
giraffe
stretch
get aitlong
out!neck?
Charles Darwin (1807-1882)
• Wrote Origin of
Species which
presented
observations that
demonstrated all
living things
evolved from other
living things
• Based on Variation
and Natural
Selection
Some of Darwin's ideas that
support evolution
• Overproduction • Competition:
– Within a population, – Numbers of
more offspring are individuals in a
born then can population remain
possibly survive. the same from
generation to
generation.
– A struggle for
survival is
suggested
– This is the basis for
life
Survival of the
Fittest
• Individuals
who survive
are the ones
best adapted
to exist in their
environment
due to the
possession of
variations.
Reproduction
– Individuals
that survive
will
reproduce
and transmit
these
variations to
their
offspring
.
Speciation
• As time and generations
continue, many
adaptations are
perpetuated in individuals
until new species evolve
in forms different from
the common ancestor
Natural Selection
• Traits which are beneficial to the survival of an
organism in a particular environment tend to be
retained and passed on, increasing in frequency
with in the population
• Trait which have low survival tend to decrease in
Frequency
• When environmental conditions change, trait that
were formally associated with low survival may
have greater survival
Problem with Darwin’s
Theory:
He did not have any genetic
backing for his theory!
Modern Evolutionary Theory
• Supports Darwin’s
theory of evolution
through mechanisms
of genetic inheritance
• Genetic Variation is
provided by mutations
and sexual
reproduction
• Mutations are
spontaneous . Some
are harmful, some
don’t do anything at
all, and a small
Mutations
• Definition:
– A random change
in the chemical
nature of DNA
• Mutations must
occur in the sex
cells in order to be
passed on to the
next generation.
• Mutations in body
cells will only affect
the individual, not
their offspring
Vestigial Structures
• Anatomical structures which are no longer
useful have evolved to become smaller
Comparing Structures and
Functions
• Comparative
anatomy
– Similarities in
anatomical features
Comparison of Embryonic
Development
• Early
vertebrate
embryo’s
closely
resemble one
another
Comparative Biochemistry

• Their structure and function can be

similar even though may not show
structural similarity
• The closer biochemical similarities,
the closer the relationship among
organisms
– Ex: nucleic acids.
Mechanisms and Patterns of
Evolution: Geological
Observations
• Fossils: – Common Ancestry
• Law of Super- • Divergence of
posistion modern forms of
living things from
• Carbon Dating
pre-existing life
• Radio active decay forms
• This is the central
concept in organic
(species) evolution
Concepts of Evolution
• Geographic
Isolation
– Favors speciation
by segregating a
small group from
the main population
with a geographi
barrier
• Ex: Islands,
mountains, rivers ….
– In time, isolated
populations may
Darwin's Finches
Adaptive radiation
• Rapid speciation of a single or few species
to fill many ecological niches.
Geographic Isolation Cont.

• Factors
1. It may have possessed different initial
gene frequencies than the main
population
2. Different mutations occur with in main
population and isolated population
3. Different environmental factors
– Different selecting agents (factors that
determine who survives) on each
population
Time Frame for Evolution
• Gradualism:
– Evolutionary
change is slow and
continuous

• Punctuated
equilibrium:
– Long periods of
stability interrupted
by geologically brief
periods of
significant change