Evolution
Natural Selection
&
Adaptations
Evolution
change of heritable characteristics in
populations through successive generations
Natural Selection
● Traits that offer an advantage will most likely be passed
onto offspring.Individuals with those traits have a better
chance of surviving.
How
does
that trait
change?
• explained evolution through
natural selection using the
phrase “survival of the fittest”
Charles
• studied tortoises and finches
on the Galapagos Islands
Darwin
Individuals that survive aren't always the strongest, fastest, or
smartest. Darwin intended "fittest" to mean the members of the
species best suited for the immediate environment.
Those with superior traits in that particular
environment will survive and pass on those traits to
their offspring.
Watch this video:
Adaptation
- inherited trait
(characteristic) that
improves the chances of
survival and reproduction of
an organism
→ If an organism cannot reproduce, it
cannot not pass on its traits.
→ If the species cannot reproduce – it
will go extinct.
Three types of adaptations
● Structural/
Watch this video:
Physical
● Behavioral
● Physiological
Structural Physiological
Behavioral
Species Adaptation Project
Select a currently existing species (plant,
animal, bacteria, fungi) and sign up:
Species Adaptation Project Signup
Create a display (diorama, poster, visual aide) to
showcase the unique adaptations of a particular
species.
See Project Rubric for detailed requirements and
grading criteria.
Evolution
Evidence
Evidence of Evolution
● Comparative Anatomy
● Biochemistry
● Fossil Record
● Embryological Development
Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures
Comparative Anatomy
Homologous Structures
Similar structures BUT with different
functions in different species
- Demonstrate that different species share a common ancestry
- Similar in basic structure and developmental origin, inherited from a shared
ancestor, even if they have adapted to different functions in different species.
Comparative Anatomy
Analogous Structures
○ Similar function, different structure
○ Evolved similar structures due to living in similar
environments, not due to ancestral relatedness
○ CONVERGENT EVOLUTION
Comparative Anatomy
Vestigial Structures
Organs or
structures that
appear to have no
known function
Examples:
■ tailbone and
appendix in humans
■ “leg” bones in
python
Comparative Anatomy
Vestigial Structures
← Watch
this video
And another great
video:
From PBS
LearningMedia:
Fish with Fingers
https://wosu.pbslearnin
gmedia.org/resource/td
c02.sci.life.evo.fishfinge
rs/fish-with-fingers/
Biochemistry
DNA, Amino Acids, Proteins
Analyzing and comparing the related biochemical
aspects in different species to determine similarities
The more similar the
amino acid
sequence (and
therefore the DNA
sequence), then the
species are more
closely related
(indicates a shared
common ancestor).
Biochemistry
DNA, Amino Acids, Proteins
Similarities in metabolic pathways such as DNA
replication, transcription, and cellular respiration
are further pieces of evidence for common
ancestry.
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is strongly
supported and also helps to explain many more
recent discoveries, such Mendel’s work in
genetics and the molecular biology of both DNA
and proteins.
Biochemistry
A cladogram is a tree-like
diagram showing evolutionary
relationships that can be
constructed from one or
multiple kinds of comparison
data; DNA sequence
comparisons are often used.
Preserved remains or traces of animals,
Fossils plants, and other organisms from the past
and can show that life on Earth was once
different from life found on earth today.
Fossils
● Paleontologists can
determine the age of fossils
using methods like
radiometric dating and
categorize them to
determine the evolutionary
relationships between
organisms.
● Transitional fossils have
been found that link extinct
species to current species,
which helps scientists piece
together evolutionary
history.
Embryological Development
The embryos of vertebrates are very similar in
appearance early in development but may grow
into different structures in the adult form.
This suggests common ancestry among vertebrates.
Embryological Development
Evolution
Speciation
Speciation
How do new species form?
● Species
○ population whose members can
interbreed and produce fertile offspring
● Reproductive isolation
○ members of a population stop breeding
and the and become two different species
○ This can occur due to:
■ Behavioral isolation
■ Geographic isolation
■ Temporal isolation
Speciation
● Forming of a new species
by evolution from
pre-existing species
● Gene pools gradually
become different and are
no longer able to
reproduce.
● At this point, the two
groups are different
species.
Behavioral Isolation
two populations of the same species develop
differences in courtship rituals or other behaviors
that prevent them from breeding
Behavioral Isolation
Extinction
Elimination of a species
● Gradual extinction
○ occurs at a slow rate
○ examples: changes in climate, natural
disasters
● Mass extinction
○ occurs when a catastrophic event changes
the environment suddenly
○ Examples: massive volcano, meteor
Divergent Evolution
● A number of different species arise from one common
ancestor.
● New environments caused them to evolve to be
different
Convergent Evolution
● When unrelated species evolve similar characteristics
because they live in similar environments
Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction
● Asexual Reproduction
○ Process where one parent produces genetically identical
offspring (clones)
○ Genetic variation can only occur through mutations of DNA
○ Better suited for stable environments
● Sexual Reproduction
○ Two parents to produce offspring; process of meiosis to create
gametes
○ Genetic changes
○ Makes organisms better suited for changing environments
