1. Developing a Theory of Evolution

2. Evolution processes earliest forms diverse  The processes that have changed life on earth from it’s earliest forms to the diverse forms found today. changegenes!!!!!!  A change in the genes!!!!!!

3. What Influenced Darwin’s Theory?  Jean Baptiste Lamarck  Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829)  1 st to recognize living things change over time  made 3 incorrect assumptions: 1) DESIRE TO CHANGE 2) “Use it or Lose it” 3) Aquired traits can be inherited

4. Charles Lyell (1797-1875)  A geographer-  A geographer- studied the forces that change the surface of the Earth  Wrote famous book “Principles of Geology”  Showed that the Earth was VERY old and had changed over time Darwin  Convinced Darwin Earth was older than most believed  gave the time needed for Darwin’s Theory of evolution to occur

5. The Influence of Farmers & Artificial Selection  Darwin spoke to lots of plant and animal breeders, noticed variation occurred naturally  Farmers choose to only breed animals /crops with DESIRABLE VARIATIONS  Therefore, farmers were artificially selecting (mates/traits) so that only the best traits were passed on via reproduction

6. Thomas Malthus (1766-1834)  Observed more babies being born than people dying… population should be growing out of control  Many species make lots of eggs/sperm BUT ONLY A FEW OFFSPRING survive! Ex) Salmon for 4000 eggs 1survives ]Ex) Humans 150,000 sperm only 1 fertilizes egg

7. Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

8. Darwin H.M.S. Beagle  Set sail on the H.M.S. Beagle for 5 years! (1831-1836) Surveyed the South seas  Was most influenced by South America and ESPECIALLY the Galapagos Islands!  Collected plants and animals & wrote detailed observations  In 1859 Wrote “Origin of Species” to explain his Theory of Evolution…

9. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution 4 main points: 1.Over population/reproduction  not all offspring actually survive  not all offspring actually survive 2.Variation Exists WITHIN species  Not all offspring are exactly the same 3. Less “Fit” organisms die 3. Less “Fit” organisms die 4. More “Fit” organisms survive 4. More “Fit” organisms survive