Evolution

1. Evolution

2. Evidence supporting evolution Fossil record shows change over time Anatomical record comparing body structures homology & vestigial structures embryology & development Molecular record comparing protein & DNA sequences Artificial selection human caused evolution

3. Fossils help decipher life’s history Layers of rock contain fossils new layers cover older ones creates a record over time fossils show evidence for past life over a long period of time Hyracotherium Laetoli

4. Fossils tell a story… the Earth is old Life is old Life on Earth has changed

5. Evolution of birds Today’s organisms descended from ancestral species Fossil of Archaeopteryx lived about 150 mya links reptiles & birds

6. ? ? ? Complete seriesof transitionalfossils ? Whale evolution Land Mammal Where are theintermediate fossils? Ocean Mammal

7. Vestigial organs Hind leg bones on whale fossils Why would whales have pelvis & leg bones if they were always sea creatures? Hind limb buds Dolphin embryo

9. Evolution from sea to land • 2006 fossil discovery of early tetrapod • 4 limbs • Missing link from sea to land animals ichthyostega

10. Anatomical record Animals with different structures on the surface But when you look under the skin… It tells an evolutionary story of common ancestors

11. Comparethe bones Homologous Structures

12. But don’t be fooled by these… • Analogous structures • look similar on the outside • Same function • different structure & development on the inside • different origin • no evolutionary relationship Solving a similar problem with a similar solution

13. Analogous structures • Dolphins: aquatic mammal • Fish: aquatic vertebrate • both adapted to life in the sea • not closely related

14. Convergent evolution 3 groups with wings Does this mean they have a recent common ancestor? Flight evolved 3 separate times— evolving similar solutions to similar “problems”

15. Convergent evolution led to mimicry • Why do these pairs look so similar? Monarch male poisonous Viceroy male edible

16. Comparative embryology Development of embryo tells an evolutionary story similar structures during development

17. Dog Human Macaque Bird Frog Lamprey 8 32 45 125 67 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 Molecular record Comparing DNA & protein structure everyone uses the same genetic code! DNA • compare common genes • compare common proteins number of amino acids different from human hemoglobin

18. Building “family” trees Closely related species are branches on the tree — coming from a common ancestor

19. Evolution: the source of Earth’s biodiversity Biological evolution: genetic change in populations of organisms across generations Natural selection: reproductive fitness

20. Understanding evolution is vital • to understand how organisms adapt to their environment and change over time. • It is needed for ecology, a central component of environmental science. • Relevant for agricultural, medicine, pesticide resistance, environmental health

21. Genetic variation Genes ofbetter-adapted individuals will be more prevalent than those of less well-adapted individuals in future generations. Adaptive trait (adaptation): a trait (characteristic) that promotes reproductive success Mutations: accidental changes in DNA that may be passed on to the next generation Non-lethal mutations provide the genetic variation on which natural selection acts. Sexual reproduction, which involves recombination (the mixing of parental genes), also leads to variation.

22. Evidence of natural selection is everywhere • functioning: beaks in honeycreepers

23. Artificial selection • How do we know natural selection can change a population? • we can recreate a similar process • “evolution by human selection” “descendants” of wild mustard

24. Artificial selection Humans create the change over time “descendants” of the wolf

25. Artificial selection

26. Artificial Selection gone bad! Unexpected consequences of artificial selection Pesticide resistance Antibiotic resistance

27. Insecticide resistance Spray the field, but… • insecticide didn’t kill all individuals - variation • resistant survivors reproduce • resistance is inherited • insecticide becomes less & less effective

28. Evolution generates biodiversity Biological diversity (biodiversity): an area’s sum total of all organisms The diversity of species Their genes Their populations Their communities

29. Evolution: A Preview Adaptation of a population to a new environment – may lead to a new species Darwin’s Observations More offspring than needed Population size is about the same Individuals differ Some variation is inherited

30. Evolution: A Preview Adaptation of a population to a new environment – may lead to a new species You won’t see this unless you are prepared to see it Darwin’s Observations More offspring than needed Population size is about the same Individuals differ Some variation is inherited

31. Expeditions Access to remote places to make biodiversity collections Alfred Wallace Brazil Malay Peninsula 8 years 125,000 animal specimens

32. Age of the Earth Uniformitarians Present mechanisms hold for the past Erosion & uplifting = mountains Catastrophists A few violent events occur suddenly

33. Age of the Earth Uniformitarians Earth must be old Catastrophists Earth can be young (Bishop Usher: “October 22, 4004 BC” ) Not an evolutionary question

34. Malthus & Population Tendency to rise beyond numbers that can be supported by the environment Reduced by disease, war 1776-1834 populationsize time

35. Evolutionary Questions Do species change? If so, how? Evolution: Change through time

36. Jean-Baptist Lamarck Outstanding Naturalist Observations Variability within species Trend of increasing complexity in species

37. Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution Theory of Acquired Characteristics Species change in response to a changed environment Species can change by “use” Changes are passed on Published in 1809

38. Lamarck’s Giraffe and stretching until neck becomes progressively longer Keeps stretching neck to reach leaves higher up on tree and stretching Original short necked ancestor

39. Darwin’s Giraffe Natural selection favors longer necks: better chance to get higher leaves. Favored character passed on to next generation Original group exhibits variation in neck length After many, many generations the group is still variable, but shows a general increase in neck length

40. Lamarck’s Contributions to the Development of Evolutionary Theory • Presented evidence that fossils were the remains of extinct animals. • Occurrence of fossils suggested to Lamarck that profound changes had taken place during the history of life on earth. • Proposed the hypothesis of evolution by the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

41. Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution Lamarck had good data It is good common sense But it isn’t right

42. Theories in Lamarck’s time If data support your theory, and You can’t think of an alternative theory Your theory must be right

43. Theories Today Poor theories are not discarded A poor theory can only be replaced by a better one A subtle but important difference

44. Darwin (1809-1882) Ground work for the acceptance of evolution already done Many of the main ideas already known But …Darwin relied on his own observations

45. Darwin: Accomplishment Age 27: 5 year voyage completed Age 30: good travel book written Middle age: natural history expert Age 50: “Origins” published Lifetime = 20 books, 80 papers

46. Darwin: Attributes Gifted experimentalist Equivalent of a “millionaire” Quiet & modest lifestyle

47. Darwin: Attributes Tremendous energy Gift of simplicity Courageous Wrote so that the common person could read his works

48. Darwin: Chronology College, but “sporting set” Active naturalist, collector Beagle as companion to Fitzroy Gone for 5 years

49. Darwin South America = no rabbits But animals therewere similar to rabbits “Why no rabbits?” Ancestors had to get there or they must have originated there

50. European Rabbit: Oryctolagus cuniculus