MILESTONE MINUTES

EVOLUTIONWeek 5

LAMARCK PROPOSED THE INCORRECT THEORY OF ACQUIRED

CHARACTERISTICS-OBTAINED TRAITS ARE INHERITED.

CHARLES DARWIN IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF EVOLUTION AND PROPOSED MORE ACCEPTED THEORIES.

CHARLES DARWIN:

All species produce more organisms than can survive.

There is variation within a population of organisms.

Some variations are favorable for survival, some are not favorable for survival.

Organisms with favorable traits will live to reproduce (natural selection/survival of the fittest).

Adaptation is the only means to overcome environmental stresses, increase survival and reproduce.

Overtime, organisms with the same favorable variations will populate the population (evolution).

EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION CAN BE SHOWN THROUGH COMPARISON OF

FOSSIL RECORDS AND ANATOMY

EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: FOSSIL RECORDS ANATOMY

Homologous structures- similar anatomy and similar function (human arm: crocodile leg)

Analogous structures-similar function and different anatomy (bird wing: ostrich wings)

Embryologic Development- comparing the growth and development of plant/animal embryos.

Biochemistry-comparing biochemical pathways with plants or animals.

Relative Dating- the depth a fossil is discovered in the earth’s layers can indicate its approximate age.

Radioactive Dating/Half life -measuring the decomposition of radioactive isotopes to date a fossil.

CHANGES IN GENETIC EQUILIBRIUM WITHIN A POPULATION CAN RESULT IN

EVOLUTION

CHANGES IN A POPULATION RESULT IN EVOLUTION

Mutations can cause changes in genetic equilibrium.

Genetic Drift changes genetic equilibrium by chance.

Geographic Isolation- physical barrier divides a population, prevents mating, promotes new species.

Reproductive Isolation -organisms of same species can no longer mate, promotes new species.

Convergent Evolution -display of similar characteristics due to similar environmental stresses

Divergent Evolution- display of different characteristics due to different environmental stresses.