EVOLUTION By: Geneva Winterink

Curriculum Expectations C2.3 analyse, on the basis of research, and report on the contributions of various scientists to modern theories of evolution C3.4 describe some evolutionary mechanisms(e.g., natural selection, artificial selection, sexual selection, genetic variation, genetic drift, biotechnology), and explain how they affect the evolutionary development and extinction of various species (e.g., Darwin’s finches, giraffes, pandas)

Issues Religion in schools Pope John Paul II stated in 1996: “New scientific knowledge has led us to realize that the theory of evolution is no longer a mere hypothesis. It is indeed remarkable that this theory has been progressively accepted by researchers, following a series of discoveries in various fields of knowledge. The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favor of this theory” (Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Evolution, October 23, 1996).

Changing or Unchanging Evolution – the process in which significant changes in inheritable traits occur over time Immutable – unchanged and unchanging, believed to be the characteristics of life forms

Darwin’s Voyage In 1831 Darwin began a 5 year voyage on the HMS Beagle Beginning in England and surveying the coast of South America Studied nature, fossils, collected several species Discovered extinct species such as the Glyptodon and Megatherium (share same patterns of distribution in South America as the modern day armadillo and sloth)

Galopogos Islands Darwin’s Finches Seed and tool activity from hooks ! http://people.rit.edu/rhrsbi/GalapagosPages/DarwinFinch.html Different beaks allowed finches to consume different food

Voyage Asked the question… Why continents separated by large distances would have entirely different species occupying similar niches? Did a species transport lands and reproduce to create similar species?

UINTATHERIUM Rhinoceros

Sabre tooth tiger Modern day tiger

Homologous Features Structures that share a common origin or are similar anatomically but serve different functions in modern species

Embryos

Analogous Features Structures similar in function but not in origin or anatomical structure

Vestigial Features Rudimentary and non-functioning structures that homologous to fully functioning structures in closely related species Come up with as many examples of vestigial features and analogous features relating to either humans, plants or animals? Ex: beetles have wings under fused covers, humans have muscles behind their ears, some snakes and whales have vestigial hips homologous to mammals with hind limbs

Artificial Selection Darwin began to study artificial selection in plants and animal done by farmers Select offspring with desirable traits and only allow those to reproduce Farmers increased oil content from 6% to 14% in corn kernels Artificial selection is done by human choices What are some modern examples of artificial selection we see today?

Natural Selection Just as humans could chose the traits they wanted, nature could choose the traits based on the ability to survive Species are different in that their characteristics will be varied from one another; through random genetic mutations Some mutations help the species survive better: if this mutation is dominant it may be passed on to the next generation The environment has an effect on the survival

Darwin’s Natural Selection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SCjhI86grU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me_041nrRZk

Observations “Can we doubt that individuals having any advantage, however slight, over others, would have the best chance of surviving and procreating their kind?” Scenario : Propose an evolutionary scene in which a lizard who once had a short tongue would evolve into a species with a long tongue. What happens over time for this to occur?

Describe the original crab population in 4 a Crabs produce many offspring describe what must be happening to the offspring throughout each stage? What can account for the changes?

Observation 1 Individuals within a species vary in many ways Observation 2 Some of this variability can be inherited Observation 3 Every generation produces far more offspring than can survive and pass on their variations Observation 4 Populations of species remain stable in size Inference 1 Members of the same species compete with each other for survival Inference 2 Individuals with favourable variations are more likely to survive. Survival is not random Inference 3 As these individuals contribute proportionately more offspring to succeeding generations, the favourable variations will become common (natural selection)

Examples of Natural Selection Within your group how many examples of natural selection can you come up with? http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/10-examples-natural-selection.htm

Evidence From the Past Fossils, Fossils, Fossils At the end of the 15th century Leonardo da Vinci began examining sea shell remains in Tuscany mountains (hundreds of km’s from the Sea)

FOSSIL FORMS Impressions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rkGu0BItKM

Fossilization Organism dies Organism is buried and compressed under many layers of sediment Under high pressure deposits harden to form sedimentary rock and the fossil remains become mineralized Erosion or excavation of sedimentary rock exposes fossil remains

Ice Baby Intact Fossils Intact/preserved – fossilized in amber or ice (woolly mamoth)

Hard Body Parts Bones, teeth, nails, skulls

Early Ideas About Evolution Activity – Create an evolutionary timeline on a Prezi Leonardo da Vinci, Baron Georges Cuvier, James Hutton, Comte Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon, Erasmus Darwin/ Sir Charles Lyell, Chevalier de Lamarck http://prezi.com/luzg8v0_f58d/edit/

Lamarck Inherited Acquired Traits that you are born with and are given to you through genetics and DNA Traits that have been adapted or learned by an individual. Can be acquired from environmental influences Can not be inherited !

Misconceptions Genetic drift is not evolution - Genetic drift or allelic drift is the change in the frequency of a gene variant (allele) in a population due to random sampling. The alleles in the offspring are a sample of those in the parents, and chance has a role in determining whether a given individual survives and reproduces Adaptations are not acquired, they must occur as a result of a mutation