'30 Origins of life and the

evidence for evolution

Q&A

What is the origin of life?

說出⽣命的起源。
It is belived that life is evolved from inorganic matters like ammonia,
methane, water vapour and hydrogen.

In ancient atmosphere, there was frequent lightning and strong

ultraviolet radiation. These supply energy for

the reactions among the above inorganic matters to form simple organic
molecules like amino acids and

organic acids. The organic molecules then joined to form the first
organism.

科學家相信⽣命是從無機物如氨、甲烷、⽔蒸氣和氫氣等衍⽣⽽來。在遠
古的⼤氣常有閃電
及強烈的紫外光，它們提提能量讓以上無機物發⽣化學反應，產⽣如氨基
酸及其他有機酸等
簡單有機物質。這些有機物結合成原始的⽣物。

'30 Origins of life and the evidence for evolution 1

 Explain Darwin's theory of evolution.
解釋達爾⽂之進化論。
Existence of variation 存在變異﹕
Different individuals of a species show considerable variation, such that
some individuals are better adapted

to the environment than others.

物種內的個體多少有些差異，這些差異使某些⽣物⽐其他的同類更適應環
境。
Struggle for existence掙扎求存﹕

Organisms generally produce more offspring than the environment can

support. This leads to overcrowding,

resulting in keen competition between individuals.

⽣物通常⽣產多於環境所能承受的後代，這會引致過度擠迫，個體間出現
惡性競爭。
Natural selection物競天擇﹕
The environment exerts a weeding-out effect, so that the poorly adapted
organisms perish before they reach

sexual maturity.

環境的汰弱淘強效應使不能適應的⽣物未達⽣育年齡便消失。
Survival of the fittest適者⽣存﹕
Individuals with favourable variations will stand a better chance of survival. As
a result well adapted

individuals reach reproductive age and hand on their favourable

characteristics to their offspring whereas

less well adapted individuals fail to do so.

有優良變異的⽣物較易⽣存，結果較能適應環境的⽣物可達到⽣育年齡，
將優良的性狀傳給
下⼀代，⽽不良的個體會被淘汰。
Give evidence of evolution from fossil records.

提出⽀持進化論的化⽯紀錄證據。

'30 Origins of life and the evidence for evolution 2

 It is found that the top layers of rock strata show complex fossils in the
order of mammals, birds,

reptiles, amphibians and fishes as we go downwards, while the lower

(older) layers show fossils

belonging to invertebrates. This shows that simple organisms gradually

evolved to complex

organism. The fossil records sometimes show extinct forms intermediate

between two presently

living types. For example, Archaeopteryx was an extinct bird that had
teeth and a long tail

(character of reptiles) and also had feathers (character of birds). This

proved that the birds had

evolved from the reptiles.

從⽯層的表⾯往下發掘，所找到的化⽯顯⽰出⼀個由上⽽下的次序﹕哺乳
類、⿃類、爬⾏類、
兩棲類、⿂類。底層(年⽼)的化⽯多是無脊椎動物，這顯⽰出複雜的⽣物
從簡單的⽣物進化
⽽來。化⽯有時可找到現存⽣物的中間型，例如我們找到⼀塊名為始祖⿃
的化⽯，始祖⿃是
⼀種已絶種的⿃類，牠有⽛⿒及⻑尾(爬⾏類的特徵)，⼜有⽻⽑(⿃類的特
徵)，這可證明⿃類
是從爬⾏類進化⽽來。
What are the limitations of using fossil record as evidence for evolution?

化⽯紀錄作為進化的證據有什麼局限性?
There are missing links in the fossil record.

化⽯紀錄存在缺少的環節。
Soft-bodied orgaisms cannot be fossilized.

由軟組織構成的⽣物未能⽯化。
Some fossils are located in inaccessible areas.

有些化⽯藏於難以接觸的地區。

'30 Origins of life and the evidence for evolution 3

 Give evidence of evolution from comparative anatomy.
提出⽀持進化論的⽐較解剖學證據。
If different animals have started with the same ancestor, subsequent
generations should show slight

modification of the basic anatomical plan. They should have

homologous structures.

Having homologous structures (the presence of pentadactyl limb) in

nowadays organisms showing

adaptations to different environmental conditions and mode of life

suggests the existence of

divergent evolution.

若不同的動物都是從同⼀祖先⽽來，牠們的⾝體結構應該極為相似，因為
牠們的⾝體結構都
只會從祖先的基本結構作少許的修改，牠們應有同源結構。
存有能適應不同環境及⽣活⽅式的同源結構(五趾型肢)是趨異演化的證
據。
Give evidence of evolution from genetic similarities.
提出⽀持進化論的遺傳物質的相似性證據。
The more similar the base sequence of DNA, the closer the evolutionary
relationship of the

organisms. eg. 98% base sequence of human is the same as that of

chimpanzees, but only 80% of

rabbits. Human therefore have a closer evolutionary relationship with

chimpanzees than rabbit.

兩種⽣物的鹼基序列越相似，它們的進化關係越密切。例如:⼈類的鹼基
序列跟⿊猩猩有98%
相同，但跟兔⼦則只有80%，因此⼈類與⿊猩猩的進化關係較與兔⼦密
切。

'30 Origins of life and the evidence for evolution 4