Evolution by Natural Selection

The diversity of life has evolved and continues to evolve

by natural selection.
• Explain how natural selection leads to evolution:
• Describe the consequence of the
overproduction of o spring is a struggle for
survival.
• Outline that individuals that are better adapted
tend to survive and produce more o spring,
while those that are not as well adapted tend to
die or produce fewer o spring.
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Overview of Factors for Natural Selection
POPULATION APPEARS TO ADAPT

• There are ve basic CHANGE IN ALLELE FREQUENCY

factors to natural
selection
ENVIRONMENT “SELECTS”
• They are all
observable in nature OVERPRODUCTION
(CONSTANT STRUGGLE)
and experiments
VARIATION
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1. Genetic Variation is raw material
• There must be di erences
among individuals that a ect
their survival
• These physical di erences
are due to genetic di erences
• Caused by mutation, meiosis,
and sexual reproduction
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 2. There is a constant struggle for survival

• Organisms produce more

o spring than can survive
• The environment poses
challenges to stay alive
and/or nd food
(limited resources)
• Examples?
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 3. Environment “selects” individuals
• Organisms that have traits
best suited to the
environment survive
• These are deemed the
“ ttest” individuals
• Only the survivors are able to
reproduce
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 4. Natural selection leads to genetic change

• The “ t” organisms possess

certain alleles
• O spring that are produced
have “ t” alleles
• Frequencies of successful
alleles increases
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5. Population appears to adapt to the environment

• Over time, it looks as if the

species changed itself to
become adapted
• Never use “adapt” as a verb!
 Ancestors of
Giraffes
did NOT adapt!

They went
extinct
Evolution by natural selection
What traits are being selected for in the turtles?
Evidence for evolution…
•Selective breeding
• Fossil record
• Homologous Structures
• DNA - amino acid sequences
 1. Selective Breeding
• Humans have been breeding plants and animals purposefully for
thousands of years through arti cial selection

• The breeds of these plants

and animals greatly vary
from their wild counterparts

• Shows that selection can

cause evolution
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Selective
Breeding
 How
Fossils
Form
2. Fossil Evidence
• Show organisms that are similar to, but different
morphology to, organisms alive today
(e.g., armadillos, sabre toothed cats)

• Fossils have also been found for species that are

no longer present today indicating extinctions
(dinosaurs and trilobites)

• Suggests that many species have been present on

the earth over its history:
species populations have changed over time
 3. Homologous Structures
• Show common ancestry

• Structures have
similar construction
because of
common descent

• Same structure,
different function

• E.g., Bat wing,

whale ipper
and dog paw
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 4. Similarity in Proteins
• Similarities in nucleotide (bases) or amino acid
sequences can indicate common ancestry
Natural Selection Simulation
 • Explain how natural selection leads to evolution.
• Describe the consequence of the overproduction of
o spring is a struggle for survival.
• Outline that individuals that are better adapted tend to
survive and produce more o spring, while those that are
not as well adapted tend to die or produce fewer o spring.
• Outline the evidence for evolution provided by the fossil
record, macromolecules (amino acid sequences), selective
breeding of domesticated animals, and homologous
structures.
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