Evolutionary Insights from Darwin's Time to Modern Science

1. Chapter14 Evolution: A History and a Process

2. 14.1 Darwin Developed a Theory of Evolution Ideas From Darwin’s Time • Evolution: change over time • Before mid-1700s: • Species are permanent, do not change. • Earth is <10,000 yrs old & unchanging. • Georges Buffon (mid-1700s) • Studied fossils • Believed Earth to be older • Decided that certain living animals were similar, but not exact to their ancestors

3. 14.4 Notes… Ideas From Darwin’s Time • Jean Lamarck (early 1800s) • Proposed that life changes • Changes occur as process of adaptation • Adaptation: Inherited characteristic that improves an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce. • Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics: organism can pass on characteristics acquired during its lifetime to its offspring e.g. Kangaroo’s powerful legs were result of ancestors jumping & passing leg strength to offspring -Proven false, adaptation requires modification of DNA

4. 14.1 Notes… The Voyage of the Beagle • 1831- Voyage around world • Chart coastline of S. America for British navy • Charles Darwin (22yrs) on board HMS Beagle • Study geology, plants & animals during voyage.

5. 14.1 Notes… Darwin’s Observations • Observed thousands of specimens. • Kept extensive journals & recorded observations • Plants & animals in S.A. are different from European species. • Interested in Galapagos islands: • Galapagos species were similar but different from S.A. mainland species • Species on some Galapagos islands were similar to, but different from, species on nearby islands. • Concluded that species changed to adapt to new environments

6. 14.1 Notes Ideas From Geology • Darwin reads books by Charles Lyell (geologist) • Lyell suggested physical changes to Earth result from geologic processes occurring over long periods of time. Example: erosion of river bed = river canyon • Darwin experiences earthquake in Chile • Land below water shifts above water • Ocean fossils in Andes Mts. • Concludes that earth is very old and processes over time cause changes to earth.

7. 14.1 Notes… Darwin Publishes His Theory • Darwin becomes famous upon return to England • Darwin builds his theory • Reads essay by Thomas Malthus, who believes populations can grow faster than the rate of resources, causing species to struggle to survive • Writes 200 pg essay about his ideas & gathers more info. • Publishes book called The Origin of Species

8. 14.1 Notes… • Two Main Points of Darwin’s book • Descent with Modification -All species descended from ancestral species -Spread into various habitats -Accumulated different adaptations to various ways of life • Natural Selection -Individuals with inherited characteristics well-suited to environment leave more offspring Darwin’s Two Main Points Snowshoe hare Jackrabbit Peppered Moth

9. 14.2 Evolution Has Left Much Evidence The Fossil Record • Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock layers • Sand & silt deposit, pile up, & compress into layers • Organisms become fossils if buried under deposits • Evolution has left much evidence. • Fossils: preserved remains or markings left by organisms that lived in the past.

10. 14.2 Notes… • Fossil Record: collection of fossils recorded in rock layers over time. • Fossils provide evidence for earth’s changing life. • Fossils of extinct species can help link past & present life forms. The Fossil Record

11. 14.2 Notes Geographic Distribution • How organisms are distributed throughout the world gives clues to how species may have evolved. e.g. Many unique species evolved on the isolated island of Australia -Marsupials: Kangaroos and Koalas -Why? Possibly isolated with common marsupial ancestor.

12. 14.2 Notes… • Similarities in structure among species provide clues to evolutionary history. • Homologous Structures: similar structures among related species, but differing functions. Similarities in Structure

13. 14.2 Notes • Vestigial Structures: structures that have a major function in one species but not in a related species • No clear function • May have been important at one time e.g. whale & vestigial hipbones Similarities in Structure

14. 14.2 Notes… • Comparing the development of different organisms can give clues about evolution • Related species have similar embryonic stages e.g. Vertebrates (fishes, frogs, snakes, birds & primates) have pouch on side of throat during embryonic stage • Embryonic structures develop into species-specific structures e.g. pouch forms into skull bones or gills Similarities in Development

15. 14.2 Notes… Molecular Biology • DNA sequences in organisms shows similarities and differences • DNA is passed down from parents to offspring • DNA sequences are similar in similar species & different in different species. • Compare # of genes & proteins

16. 14.3 Darwin Proposed natural Selection as the Mechanism of Evolution Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection • Natural selection helps explain adaptive evolution • Population: group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time. • Finches on Galapagos Islands • S.A. finch species colonizes Galapagos islands • Finch populations on different islands adapt to local environments, diversify & become 13 separate species. • Beaks adapted for specific foods on different island-Why? Natural selection

17. How did these different beaks arise? Darwin proposes the differences arise through natural selection

18. 14.3 Notes… Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection • Theory based on 2 sets of observations • Species tend to produce more individuals than environment can support -Members of a population struggle to survive, only strongest survive. • There is variation or differences among members of the same species -Passes from generation to generation

19. 14.3 Notes… Population of Organisms • Natural Selection: • Individuals with inherited traits that are best suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than less fit individuals. Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection ↓ ↓ Overproduction ↓ Variation Struggle for Existence ↓ ↓ Differences in Reproductive Success ↓ Evolution of Adaptations

20. 14.3 Notes… Artificial Selection • Artificial selection: Selective breeding of plants and animals to produce offspring with genetic traits that humans value • Change occurs quickly e.g. diversity of dog species in 500 yrs • In contrast, natural selection favors traits that benefit organism, environment does “selective breeding”.

21. 14.3 Notes • Evolution observable in pesticide resistance insect species • By spraying crops with poisons to kill insects, humans have favored the reproduction of insects with inherited resistance. e.g. Flour beetles that feed on grain Pesticides-Natural Selection in Action

22. 14.4 Microevolution is a Change in a Population’s Gene Pool Populations and Their Gene Pools • A population is the smallest level at which evolution can occur. -natural selection is apparent when populations are tracked over time. • Gene Pool: all the alleles (alternative forms of genes) in all the individuals that make up a population.

23. Some alleles may be more common due to natural selection Frequency of alleles= how often alleles occur in a gene pool Microevolution: evolution on the smallest scale-a gen. to gen. change in the frequencies of alleles in population. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: frequency of alleles in the gene pool are constant over time. -Populations that do not undergo change are not presently evolving What mechanisms change a gene pool? 1. Genetic Drift, 2. Gene Flow & Mutation 3. Natural Selection 14.4 Notes… Changes in Gene Pools

24. 14.4 Notes… Genetic Drift • Genetic Drift: a change in the gene pool of a population due to chance. -smaller population = greater impact • The Bottleneck Effect: Reducing the size of the population (natural disasters), reduces the size of gene pool (genetic variation). E.g. Cheetahs • The Founder Effect: When few individuals, w/ little gen. variation, colonize an isolated island, lake or new habitat. E.g. Finches on Galapagos Islands

25. Genetic Drift

26. 14.4 Notes… Gene Flow & Mutation • Gene Flow: the exchange of genes with another population when fertile individuals or gametes migrate between populations e.g. Windstorm blows pollen from neighboring white flowers into a red-flowered population • Reduces the genetic differences between populations

27. 14.4 Notes… • Mutation: is a change in an organism’s DNA. • If the mutation is carried by a gamete, the mutation enters the population’s gene pool. • Natural selection can affect the frequency of the mutation in a population. e.g. albino deer • Mutations are an important source for variation in asexually reproducing organisms

28. 14.4 Notes… Natural Selection & Fitness • Genetic Drift, Gene Flow & Mutation cause microevolution or changes in allele frequencies. Only Natural Selection leads to adaptation! • Natural Selection = blend of chance & sorting • Fitness: the contribution that an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation compared to the contributions of others. a.k.a “survival of the fittest”

29. 14.4 Notes… Natural Selection & the Galapagos • Peter & Rosemary Grant have studied finches in Galapagos for 30 years. Documented several cycles of natural selection. e.g. finches eat large seeds during dry years, those with large beaks are more successful, tend to survive & pass on trait

30. 14.5 Evolutionary Biology is Important in Health Science Natural Selection and Sickle Cell Disease • Sickle Cell Disease • Only homozygous individuals have the disease: caused by a recessive allele inherited from both parents. -1 out of 25 individuals in some African populations have the disease • People suffer symptoms including: weakening, pain, damage to organs & death. • Heterozygous individuals (one copy of allele) do not have disease but can pass it on. Benefit = Resistant to malaria. • Sickle Cell Disease is common in areas with highest amount of malaria parasite due to natural selection

31. 14.5 Notes… Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria • Antibiotics: medicines that kill or slow the growth of bacteria. Benefit: Saved lives of millions of people Risk: Caused evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by natural selection • Drugs kills most of bacteria except those that can survive. Resistant bacteria multiply & become the norm. e.g. New York City & Tuberculosis Bacteria • Overuse of drugs is speeding the evolution of resistant bacteria