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
 Fossil
Record
 Comparative
Anatomy

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
1 - FOSSIL
RECORD
 Most fossils are found in
layered sedimentary rock

 Oldest
fossils are on
the lowest
layer
1 - FOSSIL
RECORD
 Comparing fossils from different
layers shows:

🞾 Life on
Earth has
changed
🞾 Increased
number
of life
2 - BIOCHEMICAL
 THE GENETIC CODE
 Tripletsof DNA nitrogen-base
sequences that code for
amino
specific  The amino
acids
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
 The amino

5
8

12
particular
acid sequence 27 45
protein
in a is
compared 67 1

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

A organisms. B Lamprey 125

C D
WWhhearet E
owrogualndistmh F
e G
cboemlomnogns
ant ceeascthor
brabnec?h? 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
Analogous structures are biological
structures having similar or corresponding
functions but not from the same evolutionary
origin.
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
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.