General

Evidences of
Evolution
 Evidence of Evolution
• EVOLUTION - genetic change in a population
of organisms over time

• 4 Types of Evidence that scientists have

gathered in support of evolution
– Fossils
– Comparative Anatomy & Structures
– Embryology
– Biochemistry (Proteins & DNA)
 Fossils
• What is a FOSSIL?
– The preserved remains or traces of an organism that is no
longer living

– Usually found in
sedimentary rocks
 What can fossils show?
• Organisms have appeared and disappeared, and have
changed over time
• Extinction of species
• Transitional forms reveal links between groups:
Archaeopteryx: between reptiles & birds
Eustheopteron: amphibious fish
Seymouria: reptile-like amphibian
Also, mammal-like reptiles & whales with hind limbs
• Reveals ancient climate & environmental conditions
• Indicates development of life from simple to complex
• Indicates life began in water
 Fossils
• Types of Fossils:
– 1. IMPRINT – thin, soft object (leaf, feather) is buried
and sediments later harden
– 2. MOLD – Buried organism disappears and leaves an
empty space
– 3. CAST – mold filled by
minerals (replica of organism)
– 4. PETRIFICATION – minerals
replace hard parts (bones, teeth, etc.) of
organism
– 5. AMBER – entire organism fossilized in tree sap
– 6. FROZEN – entire organism frozen in ice
– 7. TRACE – footprints, trails, etc.
 How can fossil age be determined?

• Depth of fossils
help to determine
their age
– Lower layers are
older than those in
upper layers
 How can fossil age be determined?

• Radioactive Isotope Dating

– Carbon-14, Uranium-238,
Potassium-40
– Measure the proportion of an
isotope relative to its more
stable form (half life)
 Why is the fossil record incomplete?

• 1. Soft tissue rarely preserved

• 2. Movement of the earth’s crust has
obliterated or covered many fossils
• 3. Fossilization takes place only in certain
types of habitats and under favorable
conditions
• 4. Paleontologists have not dug up every place
on earth
 Comparative Anatomy
• Study of anatomical structures to find similarities and
differences
– HOMOLOGOUS STRUCTURES – parts with similar basic
structure (derived from same structures in embryo—same
common descent), but may vary in function
Homologous Structures
 Comparative Anatomy
• ANALOGOUS STRUCTURES – structures that
have the same function (may look somewhat
alike), but have different structures and DO
NOT have a common descent
– Example: wings have developed independently in
insects, reptiles, birds, and bats
 Comparative Anatomy
• VESTIGAL STRUCTURES – reduced body parts (in comparison
to the same complex structure in other organisms) that have
little to no function; remnant of an ancestor
– Examples:
• Human appendix (other mammals
it is necessary to aid in digestion)
• Human external ear muscle
(useless, but still there)
• Human tailbone (coccyx)
• Human wisdom teeth
• Bird wings – Penguins adapted for
swimming, ostrich wings for
balance and courtship
Vestigial Organs
 Embryology
• Embryo- fertilized egg that will/is in the process
of growing into a new individual

• Closely related organisms go through

similar developmental stages early in
development
– All vertebrates have gill pouches sometime
during their early development
 Embryology
• Patterns of
embryological
development can
indicate a common
ancestry
– Fish, birds, mammals &
reptiles all have gills;
only fish retain theirs
– Fish, birds, humans &
reptiles all have tails; ALL
but humans retain theirs
 Biochemistry
o DNA used to translate
nucleotide sequences into
amino acid is essentially the
same in all organisms

o Proteins in all organisms are

composed of the same set of
20 amino acids
o Powerful argument in favor
of the common descent of
the most diverse organisms.
Universal Code
 Biochemical Compound Ex
• DNA
• Cyt C
• 20 amino acids
• Some enzymes
 Molecular/Biochemical Evidence
• Cytochrome c
– An ancient protein common to all aerobic (oxygen
breathing) organisms
– Amino acid sequence to make cytochrome c differs
increasingly the more distantly related two organisms
are (very similar amino acid sequence = closely
related)
– The cytochrome c of humans and chimpanzees is
identical
DNA

Cyt C
 Biochemical Similarities
• Similarity of proteins, RNA & DNA molecules
• The more closely related organisms are, the more
similar is the biochemical makeup
• Indicates common ancestor
• Universality of genetic code – supports evolution
• Similar chemistry & structure of chromosomes
among Eukaryotes
• Chlorophyll is the same basic molecule in all
photosynthetic organisms
 Activity
Directions: Compare the leg structures and tooth
structures of the horse species shown on the next
slide. Afterwards fill-up the table with the
necessary data which will be used in the
cladogram next week.
A. Color the toe bones red, marked with an x.
B. Color the foot bones blue, marked with a y.
C. Color the ankle bones green, marked with a w.
D. Color the heel bones yellow, marked with a z.