The History of Evolution Darwin Lamarck Cuvier
Species lion tiger liger Species: group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring Different species rarely breed Interspecies breeding often results in sterile offspring Ex: Horse x Donkey = Mule Ex: Lion x Tiger = Liger tiger liger
horse donkey mule
PROVEN WRONG! Jean Baptiste de Lamarck Acquired Inheritance: Early theory where organisms could acquire and pass traits after birth Cause: environmental changes forced individuals to change Early Belief: Giraffes & Long Necks Long necks are result of stretching to reach leaves Extra length was passed on to offspring Problem: Traits acquired after fertilization cannot be passed to offspring
Geologic Change Early belief: “New” Observations Earth ~6,000 years old Life remained unchanged “New” Observations Rock layers (strata) contained differing fossils Deeper fossils (older) less complex Environmental changes thought to affect life characteristics past geologic events can be explained by phenomena and forces observable today; the classical concept that 'the present is the key to the past'
Charles Darwin Observed: Organisms have variations based upon environment Similarities between extinct fossils & modern life Marine fossils atop mountains Natural Selection: Process where organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce Major concept in biology published in The Origin of Species (1859)
Finches
Adaptation & Variation Variation: Inherited traits that make an individual different from others Green, flat wings of the insect above Adaptation: Variation increases the chance of survival Ability to blend with environment
Butterflies won't lay eggs on plants with fake egg spots
Can you find the geckos?
Gross....bird poop...or is it???
Causes of Genetic Variation Genetic variation increases chances some survive changing environments Gene Pool: All alleles within a population Two main causes of genetic variation: 1) Mutations: Random genetic changes may affect phenotypes 2) Recombination(crossing over): During meiosis, genes recombine in varying patterns
Variation: 4 Different Gametes Chromatids copied Crossing- over Crossing- Over finished Genetic variation! Four differing chromatids
Review When are two organisms considered a different species? Even though incorrect, why is Lamarck’s theory still relevant? How can the general age of rocks (and fossils) be determined? How does a variation and adaptation differ? What is natural selection?
Quick Review Features of a species can evolve, or change over time Natural selection is when favorable traits allow survival & reproduction Variations allow an organism to be better suited to its environment