Review of Evolution

(see the full Evolution PowerPoint for

more details if youre interested)

Variation and Adaptation

Variation: an inherited trait that makes an
individual different from other members of its
species
Result from permanent changes (mutations) in an
organisms genes (DNA)
Changes in genes are inherited by offspring

Adaptation: a variation that makes an organism

better suited to its environment
Changes in color, shape, behavior, chemical makeup
Good examples: camouflage, defenses

Two Examples of Adaptation

Having a striped coat makes these species very successful

in their environments.
What makes this variation an adaptation? (Why are stripes
important for these animals?)

Ideas About Evolution

What is meant by the term evolution?
In general, the word evolution refers to any process of
change over time.
Examples of things evolving or changing over time:
Changes in culture: customs, languages, technology
Changes in nature: habitats, climate, environment
Studies indicate that the Earths environments have
changed greatly over millions of years.
How have living things changed along with their
environments and adapted to new conditions?

What is Evolution?
Evolution
Refers to changes in the inherited characteristics of a species
over time
Theories of Evolution
Propose that existing life forms have evolved from earlier
forms over long periods of time
Why is evolution important in the study of life (biology)?
Explains why there are differences among the millions of
species of living things on Earth
Explains why species in the past (now extinct) were very
different from species found on Earth today
Explains the diversity of life on Earth (biodiversity) as well as
the relationships between all living things

Lamarcks Hypothesis:
An Early Idea of Evolution
In 1809, Jean Baptiste de Lamarck
proposed a hypothesis for why evolution
occurs:
Hypothesis: Maybe characteristics (or
traits) developed or acquired during life
are inherited by their offspring.
He called his hypothesis the
Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics
For example:
muscles built by exercise
giraffes stretching their necks
Why was Lamarcks idea rejected?

Darwins Model of Evolution

In 1831, the H.M.S. Beagle
sailed from England to explore
the South American coast.
On board was a young naturalist
named Charles Darwin.
Darwin was fascinated by the
varieties of plants and animals
he found during the voyage.
During the journey, he recorded
observations about the strange
organisms he found in the
Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Islands Species

Marine Iguana

Galapagos Tortoises

Flightless Cormorant

Darwins Finches

Darwins Finches
Darwin observed 13 similar species of finches, with
variations in body size, beak shape, and eating habits.
Darwin hypothesized that all 13 species descended from
a similar species of finch found on the mainland.
Like all living things, finches produce more offspring than
could possibly survive.
In a large population, there must be competition for food,
habitats, and other resources. Those best adapted are
most likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their traits.
Finches with the best beak shapes for the available food
survive longer and therefore produce more offspring.
Darwin reasoned that after many generations, these
groups of finches might become separate species.

Darwins Finches

Principles of Natural Selection

1. All organisms produce more offspring than can survive.
2. Differences, or variations, occur among individuals of a
species.

3. Variations are passed on to offspring: they are inherited.

4. Some variations are helpful. Individuals with helpful

variations survive and reproduce better than those without

these variations.

Over time, the offspring of individuals with helpful

5. variations make up more of a population and eventually
become a separate species.

Fossil Clues About Evolution

Different types of fossils found in sedimentary
rocks show evidence that species evolved.
Examples of fossils:

footprints, imprints, casts

mineralized bones (like dinosaurs)
frozen fossils (mammoths)
insects trapped in amber (fossilized tree sap)

Complex forms of life occur in younger rocks;

simpler forms of life in older rocks.
Fossils indicate gradual changes in living things,
from simpler to more complex forms, over time.

Fossil Evidence: Feather Imprints

Archaeopteryx a primitive bird, Jurassic Period (150 million years ago)

Fossil Evidence: Dinosaur Bones

Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops:

Dinosaur Predator and Prey
Western U.S., 70 million years ago

Fossil Evidence: Footprints

Dilophosaurus tracks
Laetoli hominid footprints
180 million years old
3.2 million years old
Tanzania, East Africa

Dinosaur State Park

Hartford, Connecticut

Fossil Evidence: Amber

Insects trapped in tree sap (fossilized into amber)

5 million years ago, Baltic region, Europe

Fossil Evidence: La Brea Tar Pits

Extinct mammoth trapped in natural tar 40,000 years ago

La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, California

Evolution: Indirect Evidence

Besides fossils and modern studies of changes in species,
there are many examples of indirect evidence for evolution:

Embryology: the study of embryos (unborn young) and their

development shows similarities among all vertebrate species
(animals with backbones)
Homologous structures: similar body parts in related species can
indicate that two or more species share common ancestors (for
example, bats wings and human hands)
Vestigial structures: structures that dont seem to have a function
but might once have functioned in an ancestor (for example, whale
leg bones and human appendix)
DNA: similarities in DNA between species provides evidence for
how closely related they are (for example, humans and great apes
have nearly identical DNA)

General Review
If you can answer these questions, you remember the
basics of evolution:

What is the difference between a variation and an

adaptation?
What is the definition of evolution?
Describe Lamarcks hypothesis for how evolution occurs.
What are the five principles of natural selection?
What are some different types of fossils?
Describe four examples of evidence for evolution.