Theories of Evolution

Prepared by:
CLARICE ANNE R.
SANTIAGO
Objective

Explain the
occurrence
of evolution
(S10LT-IIIg-
40)
 History of Evolutionary Thought
Catastrophism (Werner/ Cuvier)
States that the earth and
geological events had
formed suddenly, as a
result of some great
catastrophe.
 History of Evolutionary Thought
Uniformitarianism (Hutton/ Lyell)
Idea that the earth has
always change in uniform
ways and that the present is
the key to the past.
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)
• Developed one of the first
theories on how species changed.
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)
• Developed one of the first
theories on how species changed.

• Concluded that organisms of

higher complexity had evolve
from pre-existing, less complex
organisms.
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution

Theory of Need
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution

Theory of Need Theory of Used

and Disused
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution

Theory of Need Theory of Used Theory of Acquired

and Disused Characteristics
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Theory of Need
• Organisms change because
they need to.
• For an organisms to evolve a
structure, it must need the structure.
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Theory of Used and Disused
• If you don’t use it, you lose it!
• Organisms develop
specialized characteristics by
the use and disuse of organs
Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Theory of Acquired
Characteristics
• If a parent acquires a body
structure during its lifetime, it
could pass on that
characteristics structure to its
offspring.
Disproving Lamarck
1. Petals on flowers
Disproving Lamarck
1. Petals on flowers
2. Corsets
Disproving Lamarck
1. Petals on flowers
2. Corsets
3. Frequent Exercise
Disproving Lamarck
1. Petals on flowers
2. Corsets
3. Frequent Exercise
4. Tails of mice
Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
• Proposed and entirely different
mechanism to account for the evolution
of species.
Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
• Proposed an entirely different
mechanism to account for the evolution
of species.
• This theory of evolution by natural
selection became the foundation of
modern evolutionary studies.
 Charles Darwin Finches
• Charles Darwin was able
to see 13 varieties of
finches, which varied in
size & shape, from island
to island.
• It took him 20 years to
organize the data
Charles Darwin Finches
The Origin of Species (1859)

Charles Darwin
presented his theory
of evolution based
on natural selection.
Natural Selection
Individuals within a
population with the most
favorable traits for an
environment survive and
pass on those traits.
Natural Selection
Individuals within a
population with the most
favorable traits for an
environment survive and
pass on those traits.

Survival of the fittest !

Theory of Natural Selection

Species Overproduction
Organisms tend to over reproduce
 Theory of Natural Selection
Competition
• There is a struggle of
existence and the
survival of the fittest.
• Living space and food
are limited.
Theory of Natural Selection

Variation
Theory of Natural Selection

Variation
• No two individuals are
the same
Theory of Natural Selection

Variation
• No two individuals are the
same
• Plants and animals of the
same species differ in size,
strength and adaptive
structures.
Theory of Natural Selection

• It is a process of
becoming better suited in
the environment.
• It improves an organism’s
Adaptation chance of survival.
Theory of Natural Selection
Natural Selection
• Environment selects
organisms that survived to
be the parents of succeeding
generations.
 Theory of Natural Selection

Speciation
• Favorable adaptations
gradually accumulate in the
species and unfavorable ones
disappear.
 Theory of Natural Selection

Speciation
• Favorable adaptations
gradually accumulate in the
species and unfavorable ones
disappear.
Lamarck’s Giraffes Theory
Darwin’s Giraffes Theory
Darwin’s Giraffes Theory
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

“It is not the strongest of the

species that survive, nor the
most intelligent, but rather
the one most adaptive to
change”