Evolution

What is Evolution
• Evolution is change in the inherited
traits of a population through
successive generations.

• When living organisms reproduce,

they pass on to their progeny a
collection of traits.

• Genetic changes in a population of

organism over time
 Evidence of Evolution
4 types of evidence in support of evolution
• Fossils: The preserved remains or traces
of an organism that is no longer living.
Usually found in sedimentary rocks.

• Comparative Anatomy (Structure): Study

of anatomical structures to find similarity
and differences.
homologous structure Analogous structure

• Patterns of embryological development

can indicate a common ancestry

• Biochemistry (Proteins & DNA): Similarity of The more closely related organisms are, the more similar
is the biochemical makeup indicates common ancestor
proteins, RNA & DNA molecules Universality of genetic code – supports evolution
 Lamarckian Evolution
1809 – Lamarck proposed his theory of evolution
Theory based on 2 hypotheses: Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck
(1744–1829)

1. Organisms develop traits by the use and

disuse of body parts VESTIGAL STRUCTURES

Giraffes had short necks originally and

2. Acquired characteristics – passed from
parents to offspring: Inheritance of
acquired characteristics.
ate grass
Grass died due to climate change, ate
leaves of trees
As giraffes stretched necks, necks grew
Giraffe’s acquired long necks – passed to
future generations
 Disproving Lamarck

August Weismann
(1834-1913)
Characteristics acquired during the lifetime of a
parent are not passed onto the offspring:

• In an attempt to disprove Lamarckism, he cut off

the tails of mice for several generations.

• The babies born from this line of tailless mice

still grew tails as long as their ancestors.

• They still found their tails useful

This was not exactly a fair test as the mice had not
stopped using their tails in an attempt to adapt to
their environment
 Darwinism

Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882)

Darwin’s Studies
• Observed fossils of marine animals on
mountains, etc
• Observed changing earth: earthquakes,
volcanoes, etc; saw change in the land
• Observed thousands of different species
• Took careful notes
• Collected specimens

Thought organisms would have to adapt to these

changes.
 Darwin’s Observations
Theory based on 4 main ideas:
Variations
The Galapagos Island
 Darwin was fascinated in particular by the
land tortoises and marine iguanas in the
Galápagos.

 Giant tortoises varied in different ways

from one island to another.

 The shape of a tortoise's shell could be

used to identify which island a particular
tortoise inhabited.
 Darwin’s Observations
Darwin’s Finches

Inheritance of traits

Variations (differences) of traits occur

among members of the same species.

Examples are different breeds of dogs,

horses, cats, etc.

Differences among the beaks of finches.

Once these adaptations are selected, these
traits are inherited.
The Galápagos Islands are home to more
than a dozen species of closely related
finches.
The most striking differences among them
are their beaks, which are adapted for
specific diets.
 Darwin’s Observations
Overproduction

Organisms produce more organisms than can

survive and reproduce.
This ensures that some offspring will survive to
reproduce.
Overproduction is a driving force in natural
selection, as it can lead to adaptation
Examples are fish, insects, frogs, etc.

Survival of the fittest

 Darwin’s Observations
Adaptation & Survival of the fittest Homologous structures

Adjustments between organisms and the

environment are called adaptation.

Adapted characteristics of organisms that

enhance their survival and reproduction in
specific environments favours natural selection.

Examples:
Analogous structures
Homologous structures: Origin same but
functions different.

Analogous structures: Origin different but

functions different.
 Darwin’s Theory
The Struggle for Existence: Members
of each species have to compete for
food, shelter, other life necessities.

Survival of the Fittest: Some

individuals better suited for the
environment.

Natural Selection: Environment

determines which variations will be
selected.
Ontogeny Repeats Phylogeny

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919)

Ontogeny: Individual development.

Phylogeny: Evolutionary descent.
 Patterns of Evolution

Convergent Evolution: organisms that

are not closely related but resemble each
other because they have responded to
similar environments.

Divergent Evolution: Related

populations become less similar as they
respond to different environments.
Can ultimately result in a new species.
Geologic Time Scale
Human Evolution
 No Gills, Scales,
Missing Links Reptile like
But with wing
Limbs, Egg laying,
Aquatic

Scale, Lung, Feather,

Webbed feet Wing, Beak, Egg
laying
Reptiles to Bird

Lung, Hair,
Mammary gland,
Live Birth.
Gills, Scales,
Fins, Egg laying, Moist skin, No Scales,
Aquatic Webbed feet, Lung
Egg laying, Lung, Scales,
Limbs, Egg laying, Egg Laying
Forked tougue, Mammals
Claw
Gondwana was an ancient
supercontinent that broke up
about 180 million years ago.
What is Gondwana?
Mesosaurus: One of the first
reptiles. Fossils found in
Southern Africa and Eastern
South America. It is only
possible if lands werer
connected as they could not
have swum across the Atlantic
Ocean.
Lystrosaurus: Lived around
250 million years ago. Fossils
found in what is now
Antarctica, India, China and
South Africa.
Gondwana Breaks
 HOW TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF FOSSILS?
Methods to determine the age of fossils:
1. Relative Dating: Sedimentation
2. Absolute Dating: Radiometic dating

Relative Dating:
Sedimentary layers are deposited in a
time sequence.
Oldest rock on the bottom, youngest
at the top. Once the rocks are placed in order from
Shows the order in which fossils oldest to youngest, also know the relative
ages of the fossils that are collected from
occurred- does not give exact ages.
them.
Shows what organisms lived together. Example: The volcanic ash layer is dated
as 507 million years old.
 HOW TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF FOSSILS?
How C-14 is produced
Carbon 14C Dating
• Also known as radiocarbon dating.
• The rate of decay of 14C is used to
determine the age of fossil organisms like
plants and animals.
• Once the plants or animal dies, they no
longer takes C-24, It starts to decay.
• Anything over about 60,000 years old,
should theoretically have no detectable
14C left.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF FOSSILS?
Half Life
Age Range of
Name of Method Material Dated Methodolog
Application

1 - 70,000 Organic material such as Radioactive d

Radiocarbon
years bones, wood, charcoal, shells matter after r

1,000 - billion Potassium-bearing minerals Radioactive d

K-Ar dating
of years and glasses minerals

10,000 - billion Radioactive d

Uranium-Lead Uranium-bearing minerals
of years via two sepa

1,000 - 500,000 Uranium-bearing minerals,

Uranium series Radioactive d
years corals, shells, teeth, CaCO3

Measuremen
1,000 - billion Uranium-bearing minerals
Fission track glass and mi
of years and glasses
radioactive d

Burial or hea
1,000 -
Luminescence (optically or Quartz, feldspar, stone tools, accumulation
1,000,000
thermally stimulated) pottery damage to e
years
lattices

Uranium-bearing materials in
1,000 - Burial age ba
Electron Spin Resonance which uranium has been
3,000,000 radiation-indu
(ESR) absorbed from outside
years centers in mi
sources

1,000 - Typically quartz or olivine Radioactive d

Cosmogenic Nuclides 5,000,000 from volcanic or sedimentary generated nu
years rocks environments

Measuremen
References
1. CAMPBELL B I O L O G Y (9th Edition)
Section; Unit 4, Chapter 22
Jane B. ReeceLisa A. Urry
Michael L. Cain
Steven A. Wasserman
Peter V. Minorsky
Robert B. Jackson

2. Evolution
DOUGLAS J. FUTUYMA

Evolution Time Line