Evidences of

Evolution
Quarter 3: Module 4
Week 5
General Biology 2
Learning Objectives:
Explain evidence of evolution (e.g.,
biogeography, fossil record, DNA/protein
sequences, homology, and embryology
(STEM_BIO11/12- IIIc-g-12)
Infer evolutionary relationships among
organisms using the evidence of evolution
(STEM_BIO11/12-IIIc-g-13)
 1. Fossil Evidence
• Fossils allow scientists to show how species have
changed over time.
• Fossils are preserved remnants of once living organisms
trapped in rocks, tar pits, frozen in ice or embedded in
amber.
• Relative dating vs. Absolute dating
 Fossils help us connect species
over time so we can see how they
changed

Archaeopteryx
- a genus of bird-
like dinosaurs.
Whale Evolution
What type of rock would most likely
have fossils in it?
 2. Anatomy
• Matching or extra/left over body parts support
the idea of common ancestors
• Focuses on similarities and differences in the
body structures of different species
 2. Anatomy
• Homologous structures
• Body parts that are the same or similar in
different species but different function
• “Patterns with descent modification”
 2. Anatomy
• Analogous structures
• Structures which are different in
appearance but have the similar function.
• It does not indicate common ancestry.
 2. Anatomy
• Vestigial structures
• Body parts that are useless or left over
from a previous ancestor in which they
were useful
• Example: Appendix, tailbones, goose
bumps and wisdom teeth.
Vestigial hip bones in whales
 3. Embryology
• Many organisms have similar embryos,
supporting the idea of common ancestors.
• Notochord-defining structure of the
chordates, and has essential roles in
vertebrate development.
https://nj.pbslearning
media.org/resource/t
dc02.sci.life.cyc.emb
ryo/common-past-
different-
paths/#.WSLb-
NIrLcs
search “common
past, different past”
 Guess the embryo
• Embryo is the early stage of development
of a multicellular organism.
 Common anatomical features
(homologous structures) in
embryos supports the theory
that all living things are related.
 Embryology
• The similarities in the early stages of embryo
development are further evidence that living organisms
have evolved from earlier living things and that they do
share a common ancestry.
 4. Biochemical

• Many organisms contain similar

sequences (sections) of DNA.
• Small mutations or changes in the DNA
eventually lead to the evolution of new
species.
 Chromosome #2 is split
into 2 separate
chromosomes in chimps.

Humans and chimps

have 98.8% similar
DNA.
Chimps have 48
chromosomes
compared to
human’s 46.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvJFI3ChOUU
 4. Biochemical
• Protein
• Cytochrome c has a primary structure
consisting of a chain of about 100 amino
acids.
• Many higher-order organisms possess a
chain of 104 amino acids. The sequences
of cytochrome c in humans is identical to
that of chimpanzees (our closest
relatives), but differs from that of horses.
4. Biochemical
 5. Biogeography
• The study of geography provides evidence
of evolution.
– island species most closely resemble nearest mainland
species
– populations can show variation from one island to
another
Five types of evidence support the
theory of evolution