Chapter 26: Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Essential Knowledge 1.b.2 – Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are graphical representations (models) of evolutionary history that can be tested (26.1-26.3). 1.d.2 – Scientific evidence from many different disciplines supports models of the origin of life (26.6).

Phylogeny Phylon = tribe, geny = genesis or origin The evolutionary history of a species or a group of related species Found in fossils and the fossil record

Fossils Any preserved remnant or impression of a past organism. Types: 1. Mineralized 2. Organic matter 3. Trace 4. Amber

Mineralized Fossils Organic Matter Fossils Found in sedimentary rock. Minerals replace cell contents. Ex: bone, teeth, shells Organic Matter Fossils Retain the original organic matter Ex: plant leaves trapped in shale Comment – can sometimes extract DNA from these fossils

Trace Fossils Footprints and other impressions No organic matter present Amber Fossil tree resin Preserve whole specimen Usually small insects, etc

Fossils - Limitations Rare event Hard to find Fragmentary Dating

Fossil Dating Methods 1. Relative - by a fossil's position in the strata relative to index fossils Absolute - approximate age on a scale of absolute time 2 types: 1. Radioactive Estimated from half-life products Ex: Carbon 14, Potassium 40 2. Isomer Ratios

What do fossils tell us? That the geographical distribution of organisms has changed over time Reason? – The land formations of the earth have changed through continental drift

Continental Drift The movement of the earth's crustal plates over time Drift is correlated with events of mass extinctions and adaptive radiations of life

Pangaea 250 million years ago One super continent Many life forms brought into contact with each other Result: Geographic isolation New environments formed, others lost As environments changed, so did life!

Mass Extinctions The sudden loss of many species in geologic time May be caused by asteroid hits or other disasters Result: Area open for surviving species to exploit Rapid period of speciation (adaptive radiation) Many new species are formed in short amount of time

Systematics The study of biological diversity. Uses evidence from the fossil record and other sources to reconstruct phylogeny. Goal: To have Taxonomy reflect the evolutionary affinities or phylogeny of the organisms.

Areas of Systematics 1. Phylogeny- tracing of evolutionary relationships 2. Taxonomy- the identification and classification of species

Taxonomy Natural to humans. Modern system developed by Linnaeus in the 18th century. Includes: Binomial nomenclature: naming system Ex: Homo sapiens Hierarchical system: arranges life into groups Ex: Kingdom  species

Levels Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Question? How do we relate Taxonomy to evolution? Not all “likeness” is inherited from a common ancestor. Problem is of homology vs. analogy

Homology and Analogy Homology – likeness attributed to shared ancestry (divergent and parallel evolution) Ex: forelimbs of vertebrates Analogy – likeness due to convergent evolution (not necessarily a shared ancestral lineage) Ex: wings of insects and birds

Convergent Evolution When unrelated species have similar adaptations to a common environment Ex: Sharks and dolphins fins; wings of bats, butterflies and birds

Taxonomy and Evolution We need methods to group organisms by anatomical similarities and phylogenies One possible method is Molecular Systematics Compares similarities at the molecular level Ex: DNA, Proteins

DNA Comparisons A direct measure of common inheritance The more DNA in common, the more closely related Methods: Restriction Mapping DNA Sequencing

Protein Comparisons Examines the Amino Acid sequence of homologous proteins. Ex: Cytochrome C Study

Molecular Clock Compares molecular differences to fossil records Result is a way to estimate divergence in species where the fossil record is missing

Chapter 25: The History of Life on Earth

Essential Knowledge 1.a.4 – Biological evolution is supported by scientific evidence from many disciplines, including mathematics (25.2). 1.b.1 – Organisms share many conserved core processes and features the evolved and are widely distributed among organisms today (25.1, 25.3). 1.c.1 – Speciation and extinction have occurred throughout the Earth’s history (25.4).

Essential Knowledge, Continued 1.d.1 – There are several hypotheses about the natural origin of life on Earth, each with supporting scientific evidence (25.1 & 25.3). 4.b.4 – Distribution of local and global ecosystems changes over time (25.4).

Fossil Record Earliest - 3.5 billion years old Earth - 4.5 billion years old Point - Life on earth started relatively soon after the earth was formed

Chemical Evolution Def – the evolution of life by abiogenesis Steps: 1. Monomer Formation 2. Polymer Formation 3. Protobiont Formation 4. Origin of Heredity

Primitive Earth Conditions Reducing atmosphere present Simple molecules Ex: H2O, CH4, H2, NH3 Complex molecule formation: Requires an energy source UV Radioactivity Heat Lightning/Electricity

Oparin and Haldane, 1920s Hypothesized steps of chemical evolution from primitive earth conditions

Miller and Urey, 1953 Tested Oparin and Haldane’s hypothesis Experiment - to duplicate primitive earth conditions in the lab Results: Organic monomers formed (include amino acids)

Other Investigator's Results All 20 Amino Acids found Others Sugars Lipids Nucleotides ATP

Hypothesis Early earth conditions could have formed monomers for life's origins These early monomers eventually joined together to form large, complex polymers

Genetic Information DNA  RNA  Protein Too complex for early life Were there other forms of genetic information?

RNA Hypothesis RNA as early genetic information Rationale RNA polymerizes easily RNA can replicate itself RNA can catalyze reactions including protein synthesis

Ribozymes RNA catalysts found in modern cells Could be a possible relic from early evolutionary processes

DNA hypothesis Developed later as the genetic information Why? More stable than RNA

Classification Kingdom: Highest Taxonomic category Old system: 2 Kingdoms 1. Plant 2. Animal

5 Kingdom System R.H. Whittaker - 1969 System most widely used today Use three main characteristics to categorize: 1. Cell type 2. Structure 3. Nutrition mode

Monerans Protists Ex: Bacteria, Cyanobacteria Prokaryotic Ex: Amoeba, paramecium Eukaryotic cells Unicellular or colonial Heterotrophs Protists

Fungi Ex: Mushrooms, Molds Eukaryotic Unicellular or Multicellular Heterotrophic - external digestion Cell wall of chitin

Plantae Ex: Flowers, Trees Eukaryotic Multicellular Autotrophic Cell wall of Cellulose/Silicon

Animalia Ex: Animals, Humans Eukaryotic Multicellular Hetrotrophic - internal digestion No cell wall

Other Systems Multiple Kingdoms – split life into as many as 8 kingdoms Domains – a system of classification that is higher than kingdom Based on molecular structure for evolutionary relationships Gaining wider acceptance

3 Domains 1. Bacteria – prokaryotic 2. Archaea – prokaryotic, but biochemically similar to eukaryotic cells 3. Eucarya – the traditional eukaryotic cells

Summary Identify the steps of Chemical Evolution Recognize the conditions on early Earth. Recognize the limitations of the fossil record. Recognize some of the key events in the history of Earth.