Chapter 13

Evolution The concept that living things have changed over time Not a new concept Lucretius a Roman philosopher Lamarck 1859 Darwin publishes “On the Origin of Species by the Means of Natural Selection”

Charles Darwin Son of a doctor Medical School drop-out Went to Cambridge University and got a theology degree 1831 he traveled with the HMS Beagle on a mission, as the ship naturalist, to map the coast of South America Stopped off on the Galapagos Islands

Darwin’s Observations He found fossils of extinct animals that looked similar to modern species, but no long exist Noted different species of animals inhabiting different islands He returned after 5 years on the Beagle but did not publish for more than 10 years He was troubled After many years of observations and revisiting his voyage data he proposed the mechanism of evolution

Darwin’s Theory Populations are in competition for resources Most species produce many offspring in a lifetime A limited number of them will survive and reproduce He concluded that the individuals best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce Natural Selection Species have accumulated adaptations and may have changed greatly from the parent population New species?