Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution May 22, 2013

Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution Paleontologists use homology to understand the evolution of organisms!

Paleontology, Homology, and Evolution Paleontologists use homology to understand the evolution of organisms! DERIVED CHARACTERISTICS

Derived Characteristics A trait that has been passed down from the ancestral organism

Derived Characteristics A trait that has been passed down from the ancestral organism – Multicellular – Vertebrates – Mammals

Derived Characteristics Trace back to understand evolution – Good example are horses and their ancestors Using a number of morphological traits, they can trace back the ancestry of modern horses.

Whales

Paleontology It is your job now to become the paleontologists and find what is in the soil.

Paleontology Use the pictures of modern organisms to try and figure out what where the fossils come from!

What did your fossil organism(s) look like?

What could you tell about the behavior or environment?

Fossils are found right here in LA at the La Brea tar pits. Take a look at the fossils from the tar pits- what can we tell about these organisms? How did they get trapped in the tar pit?

Dire Wolf Canus dirus

Bison Bison antiquus

Other organisms Camels (Camelops hesternus)

Other organisms Ground Sloth (Paralmylodon harlani)

Other organisms Mammoths (Mammuthus columbi)

Other organisms Smilodon (Smilodon fatalis)

Other organisms California dogwood (Cornus californica)

Other organisms White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Environment

La Brea