EVIDENCES OF

EVOLUTION
Fossil Record
Biochemical
Comparative Anatomy
Observable Events
EVOLUTION IS

Genetic change in a
population through time.
Charles Darwin
On his journey around the world,
Darwin found evidence of
gradual change (evolution).
Darwin cited
evidences he
found in fossil
records,
geographic
distribution and
homologous
structures.
Evidences of
Evolution
Today most evidences for
evolution are grouped into
four main categories:

 Biochemical
 FossilRecord
 Comparative Anatomy
 Observable Events
1 - FOSSIL RECORD
 Paleontology – study of fossils
 Fossil – remains or traces of an
organism that lived long ago
 Remains: ex. bone,
tooth, or shell
 Traces: ex. burrow,
footprint, or
imprint
1 - FOSSIL RECORD
 Mostfossils are found in layered
sedimentary rock

 Oldestfossils
are on the
lowest layer
1 - FOSSIL RECORD
 Comparing fossils from different
layers shows:
 Life on Earth
has changed
 Increased
number of
life forms
2 - BIOCHEMICAL
 THE GENETIC CODE
 Triplets
of DNA nitrogen-base
sequences that code for specific
amino acids  The amino
acid triplet
is the
same in
almost all
organisms.
2 - BIOCHEMICAL

 The similarity of triplet DNA

codes making-up amino acids
shows:
 A probable
common
ancestor for
all life on
Earth
2 - BIOCHEMICAL
 “Universal”GENETIC CODE
 Similar genes
 Over the ages, the genetic code
has passed
unchanged (or
nearly so) from
parent to
offspring.
2 - BIOCHEMICAL
 AMINO ACID SEQUENCING
 Theamino acid
sequence in a

5
12
8
particular 27 45
protein is
compared 67 1

between
organisms. Number of differences from
human hemoglobin
2 - BIOCHEMICAL
 Comparing amino acid sequence
shows:
Amino
 Acid
Closeness of Amino Acid Difference in
Sequencing is Hemoglobin Compared
relationship with Human
probably the
 A probable Species Difference
STRONGEST Gorilla 1
common
evidence for Rhesus Monkey 8
ancestor
relationships Mouse 27
among Chicken 45
organisms.
Human hemoglobin Frog 67
has 146 amino acids Lamprey 125
 Amino Acid Difference
in Hemoglobin
2 - BIOCHEMICAL Compared with Human
Species Difference
 CLADOGRAM: diagram that Gorilla 1
shows the evolutionary Monkey 8
Mouse 27
relationship among a Chicken 45
group of organisms. Frog 67

A B Lamprey 125
C D
Where would the
What organism E
common
belongs ancestor
at each F
be?
branch? G

20 10 0
30
Common 50 40
ancestor 100
Number of Amino Acid Differences
150
3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
 HOMOLOGOUS STRUCTURES
 structures with similar structure
but different function
 ex: limbs of vertebrates (turtle,
alligator, bird, mammal)

Alligator
Turtle Bird
Mammal
3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
 Homologous structures show
 Similar
genes
 Descent from a common ancestor

Alligator
Turtle Bird
Mammal

Ancient lobe-finned fish

3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
 VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES
 organs so reduced in
size that they are
nonfunctioning
remnants of similar
organs in other species
 ex: human tailbone,
appendix, whale pelvis
3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY

 Vestigial structures show:

 an organism’s
evolutionary past
 a common ancestor
with species that have
similar structures that
are still functioning
3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY

 EMBRYOLOGY
 Embryos of different species
may appear similar in early
stages of development
 ex:
vertebrate
development
3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
 Comparison of
similarities in
embryos can
show:

 Relationship
to a common
ancestor
4 - OBSERVABLE EVENTS
 Some changes in species have
been observed and studied:

Peter & Rosemary H. Kettlewell’s Study

Grant’s Study of of Peppered Moth
Beak Size Shift in Color Shifts
Darwin’s Finches
4 - OBSERVABLE EVENTS
 Observable events show that
evolution is an ongoing process

Peter & Rosemary H. Kettlewell’s Study

Grant’s Study of of Peppered Moth
Beak Size Shift in Color Shifts
Darwin’s Finches
Works Cited
 “Geographic Distribution of Organisms” photo:
Miller, Kenneth and Levine, Joseph. (2004).
Biology. Prentice Hall.